Stirring Up Confidence: Sureyya’s Journey in the Kitchen

For Sureyya, cooking is about much more than preparing a meal. It is an opportunity to learn new skills, build independence, connect with others, and explore her creativity. With support from DeafBlind Ontario Services, Sureyya has been working toward her cooking goals and discovering just how much she enjoys spending time in the kitchen. 

Sureyya’s interest in cooking began at a young age. Around the age of seven or eight, her mom started teaching her how to cook for herself. Those early lessons sparked a lifelong appreciation for food and gave her the confidence to keep learning. While she has always enjoyed cooking, her love of desserts played a big role in inspiring her to take cooking classes. 

“I like all desserts, especially anything with chocolate.” Sureyya says. 

Before joining a cupcake-making class, Sureyya already had some baking experience. With help from her mom and her intervenors at DeafBlind Ontario Services, she baked treats such as lemon cake and vanilla cake. Still, she was excited for the opportunity to learn something new and gain more hands-on experience. 

One of the things Sureyya enjoys most about cooking classes is the chance to learn more about the cooking process. She loves understanding the different steps involved in preparing food and feels motivated every time she learns a new skill. 

“The classes give me a good education about cooking,” she says. 

Whether she is following written instructions of a recipe, or learning in person, Sureyya enjoys both approaches and appreciates every opportunity to expand her knowledge. Her favourite part of any cooking class is simple: tasting the finished product. 

Recently, Sureyya learned how to make chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. After baking them, she decorated them with colourful sprinkles, making the experience even more fun. While placing the cupcakes in the oven was the most challenging part of the process, she found the rest surprisingly easy, especially using the cupcake liners, so they didn’t stick to the pan. 

At the end of class, she was able to bring the cupcakes home and proudly shared them with her intervenors and roommates. 

Although baking is enjoyable, Sureyya’s true passion is cooking meals. She particularly enjoys making healthy dishes, and salads are among her favourite recipes. Caesar salad, ranch salad, and Asian salad are all at the top of her list. She also loves using vegetables in her cooking and is happy to include just about any vegetable in a recipe. 

Many people have helped Sureyya develop her cooking skills over the years, including her mom, her high school teacher, and her DeafBlind Ontario Services intervenors, Amber and Cassandra. Their support has helped her gain confidence and continue developing her abilities in the kitchen. 

When it comes to comfort foods, spaghetti & meatballs and pizza are two favourites she enjoys making. One of the most challenging dishes she has tackled so far was steak cooked on the barbecue. 

“The steaks were very big and hard to flip,” she recalls. 

Sureyya became involved in cooking classes after sharing her interest with her intervenors. Learning to cook was one of her ‘Living My Best Life’ goals, and the classes provided the perfect opportunity to work toward it. 

Cooking has also helped Sureyya build meaningful relationships. She enjoys cooking with her roommate Carol, collaborating with her intervenors, and spending time with her peers. Through the classes, she has formed new friendships, including a special connection with Linda, who coordinated the program. 

Sharing food with others is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. “It feels awesome,” says Sureyya. The positive reactions she receives make her feel proud of what she has accomplished and encourages her to keep learning. 

Looking ahead, Sureyya has plenty of culinary goals. One of her next challenges is learning how to make chicken fettuccine alfredo from scratch. She is also eager to try making banana bread and is always searching for new dessert ideas. 

If she could take a cooking class anywhere in the world, she would choose go to China to learn how to make Chinese cuisine. Chicken fried rice, orange chicken, and noodles are among her favourite dishes, and she would love to learn how to make them herself. She is also interested in Mexican food and enjoys the idea of exploring foods from different cultures. 

Most importantly, Sureyya wants to continue sharing what she learns with the people around her, including her roommates and her mom. 

Through determination, curiosity, and the support of intervenors, Sureyya continues to build valuable life skills and confidence in the kitchen. With every new recipe she masters, she is proving that learning never stops, and that cooking can open the door to independence, connection, and infinite possibilities.