The Valentine's Challenge: And the Winner Is...

The first annual Valentine's Challenge is in the books. Last week I explained that cadets would be using the Valentine's holiday as an occasion to plan, create, and even name their own loaves of bread.

Well, let me tell you, the cadets rose to the occasion! Every one of them. 

Whoever thought I could find so many words beginning with "ex" to describe how the cadets performed? Normally we think of exes as a bad thing, but that's another blog post entirely.   

And since one challenge deserves another: See just how many "ex" words you can spot below, and then, just for fun, comment with the number you found. 
 
 
Expressing Their Inner Talents
 
Talent can be like a raw, unpolished gem: hidden deep inside by various circumstances and for various reasons. Sometimes it takes pushing the cadets a little past their comfort zones, to help them realize their true inner talents. 
 
For some this experience can be exhilarating. For others it can be a little scary, especially at first, because they tend to doubt themselves. We just have to remind them that self-doubting can happen to anyone, extroverts and introverts, neurotypical as well as to those on the spectrum.
 
My role at Rockin' Baker is to facilitate the right place and time for cadets to explore the talents they naturally have, and to encourage them to exercise their courage muscle.
 
Overall, every cadet executed the Valentine's challenge beautifully.  They exhibited a higher level of confidence and, for sure, expressed their creativity in delicious, sometimes exotic ways.

I'm so proud of each and every cadet. So. very. proud. 

 
And the winner is  . . .
 
 
Joaquin (pictured below) won 1st place with his Strawberry Dream loaf, Leah 2nd with her Love Potion #9, and Camryn 3rd with her Sharp Dressed Man. 
 
The Valentine’s Challenge illustrates yet again: When people are pushed just a little outside their comfort zones, they can truly expand their horizons.
 
Thanks to all of you who came to pick your favorite loaf, or in some cases, more than one! I hope all of you enjoyed this challenge.


By the way...
 
I invite you to suggest topics for future blog posts. There's so much I could write about, but I'd love to know what truly interests you.

Your feedback is always appreciated. 

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