I grew up in two food-loving households. My dad worked as a chef at various restaurants for most of his life, and my mom has evolved into one of the best cooks I know. Through them, I've learned recipes I'll carry forever, but cooking has also given me an avenue for escape and taught me life lessons I'll cherish for a lifetime.
One of the reasons I've been cooking is because the world has been so stressful these past few months. Whether from elections or foreign events, sometimes I need something to calm my mind. With its soothing and therapeutic nature, cooking provided me with an escape from some of that. I suggest cooking to anyone who needs a break from the realities of the world.
The Dana Farber Cancer Institute supports this, saying cooking is “an opportunity to be creative, stimulate the brain, and even connect to the people (or places) you aren't able to visit."
Cooking is more than following a recipe on a computer or in a book: It's a process of creativity. It's about trying new things and seeing what works for you. I remember being younger, playing with my toy cooking set and throwing different ingredients into my pot. These were some of the earliest moments of creativity in my life, and whenever I cook now, I try to revive this sense of creativity and likewise apply it to my writing and other parts of my life.
Cooking has also helped me become a better team member and improved my independent work. Because in cooking, you'll have to do both. Sometimes, I cook independently; some days, my roommate and I will divide the tasks and cook together.
This is also a strategy companies use to help build chemistry among colleagues. Some cooking schools even promote their classes for team building. On its website, Salt Lake Culinary Education says, "being tasked with cooking as a group means using all the skills your team needs in the workplace — problem-solving, assigning tasks, and good communication — all while having fun."
In college, cooking is one of the first ways to practice independence. It's ok to order out, but there is something to be said about eating the food you made. Cooking fosters independence because you're tasked with food preparation, time management, and cleaning the dishes and stove. The small stuff helps us as young adults grow into more mature people and feel more self-sufficient and empowered.
Cooking also broadens communities and helps start conversations. As the chef James Beard said, "food is our common ground, a universal experience."
Almost every Sunday, my roommate and I go to our friends' houses and have a Sunday dinner together. It's a highlight of my week because I can spend time with my friends and meet new friends they invite, expanding my group and feeling more connected and sociable.
Cooking in my own house has become one of my favorite parts of the day. Not only is it fun, but it's also a great tool for helping you in other parts of your life. You don't have to cook every day or even every other day, but I urge everyone reading this to try it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Jack Davis (he/him) is a sophomore studying journalism.
