COOKING UP CREATIVITY BY ABBY BARTLETT

My world revolves around finance, but “finance” and “creativity” are not exactly complementary. In the financial world, there is no “grey area,” making it difficult to express my creative side. However, even if I’m talking about the stock market, I’m probably thinking about what I’m going to cook next. 

I’ve been surrounded by strong Slovenian women my entire life and a big part of how we celebrate our heritage is through food. These women have allowed me into their kitchens at a young age, taught me how to cook, and now cooking is second nature.

Many college students do not experiment much with food and rely on staples such as chicken and pasta. The kitchen has been transformed into my safe space where I can use ingredients to paint a beautiful picture. Let’s be honest…Greek meatballs with lemon orzo and whipped feta sounds much more appetizing than boxed macaroni and cheese.  

I’m happiest when browsing the aisles of Trader Joe’s, searching for new ingredients to complement my dishes. Even after a long day, I look forward to coming home to create a scrumptious meal.

Food has become my love language – preparing a meal creates an inviting atmosphere that can make anywhere feel a bit more like home.

Regardless of where my career takes me, I know that I’ll always be able to turn to cooking to express my creativity through food and my passion through celebrating my culture.