Nelson Cruz
5 min read
NELSON LUIS CRUZ MÁRQUEZ STORY FROM 2021
In this post, Nelson Cruz reflects on how the experience at Dollywood became part of his path toward the chef he hopes to become.
The Beginning
It all started with a friend who convinced me to go and be part of the program. At first it feels overwhelming for your nerves, but later, with time, and after meeting so many wonderful and dear people, everything changes.
It was a decision I do not regret.
The program means a lot to me because I can say that it is part of my path to the great chef I will become one day.
Experience
At first, I did not know what to expect from Dollywood. When I arrived there, it was something very unexpected. Before getting there, I was at a point in my life where I did not know where I was going or what I wanted to do, and then my classmates came to me. My friend Pedro, who has also been part of the program, told me, “Nelson, let’s go to Dollywood. Me and another classmate are going there and it sounds good,” and I said, “Alright, let’s go.”
It was a decision I do not regret. I have felt very proud of what I have done, what I have achieved, what I have been able to learn, and also of what is coming next in the future, because many things are still ahead of me.
Looking Ahead
The program is organized in a way that gives many students the chance to grow and develop so they can have the same kind of experience I had. They arrive not knowing what to expect or what they are really going to find, and then they discover a place where they can express themselves and develop in different ways.
I would love to see the future of the new students who will come to Dollywood, and I hope I can be there too, to share my story with them so that we can continue along the same path. My name is Nelson Cruz, and this is my story.
