Chefology

Chefology in Olimpico Learning by Suhrith

The second week of Olimpico Learning revolved around Chefology and agriculture. I loved how the students learned that there was more to the food on their plate, that agriculture is actually a science. The specific 4th-grade class I was in learned how crops and livestock make their way to our plate through several processes of harvesting and cleaning. Seeing the faces of understanding on the kids when they made important connections between different concepts, like bacteria and healthiness, reminded me what Olimpico is all about: promoting STEM and opening doors for primarily socio-economically disadvantaged kids interested in pursuing a science-related job.

It was especially inspiring for me when several students who speak Spanish as their first language tried to twist their mouths to pronounce difficult words (for incoming 4th graders), such as nutrients. Even when language barriers hindered the effectiveness of their learning, perseverance always found its way, and it’s been made clear to me that the kids fundamentally want to learn. However, their financial or social situation can sometimes prevent them from having certain career opportunities. As a result, bringing awareness to different fields of science, such as Chefology or agriculture, is invaluable, and even though I’m just a volunteer, being a part of Olimpico means a lot to me — watching the kids learn is priceless.