Jayla Zeigler: A Cause to Cook For

Jayla Zeigler shares how she grew to enjoy cooking for others.

When I was younger, I had tried cooking and almost burned down the house. I tried cooking French fries and had walked away from the stove. The grease got too hot and the kitchen filled with smoke. Looking back, I realize that I shouldn’t have walked away while cooking.

During that time, I went to a school where everything felt like a competition. Everyone around me seemed super smart, always raising their hands, always getting perfect grades. Teachers expected a lot, and even when I tried my best, it never felt like enough.

I started to feel out of place like I didn’t belong there. Every day I walked into class already stressed, already thinking I was behind. It wasn’t just about schoolwork. It was how people acted. How they judged you based on your grades or how smart you seemed. Over time, I stopped caring as much, not because I didn’t want to succeed, but because it felt impossible to keep up. Transferring to a continuation school was a big change.

At first, I thought it meant I had failed somehow. I worried about what people would say or think, but once I got there, things felt different. The classes were smaller. The teachers actually took the time to help and I didn’t feel as much pressure to be perfect.

That’s when I decided to try something new and I joined a culinary class taught by a nonprofit. I wasn’t just sitting at a desk, I was creating something, learning real skills, and actually having fun. By the end of the class, I earned a certificate and for once, I felt proud of myself. But I didn’t stop there. I kept showing up, working hard, and my teacher noticed.

Eventually, I got the opportunity to start working for them. Being trusted like that meant a lot to me, and I genuinely enjoy what I do. Looking back, transferring didn’t mean giving up. It meant choosing a place where I could actually succeed and feel comfortable being myself. I learned that your path doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s to be the right one. With a Perspective, I’m Jayla Zeigler.

Jayla Zeigler is a student at Ida B. Wells High School.