Baking the World a Better Place
Summary
Pursuing passions in the kitchen to creating community.
When most people see a high school student, they probably don’t immediately think of a small business owner. I know it’s not the norm, but neither was 2020 when we experienced a worldwide pandemic due to COVID-19. Unlike some students, I enjoyed online school because of the independence I had and the fact that it offered me a lot of extra time. Most people who have met me know that I always have a plan of what I need to do next and that I don’t like wasting time, so that was the biggest challenge for me. While I was lucky that the hardest part of COVID was what felt like endless boredom, it still was not the most fun time. Baking quickly became the cure for that boredom. Our kitchen became the place where I spent the majority of my free time. Pretty soon our fridge and freezer were filled with baked goods, and I was making more treats than we could eat or give away quick enough. That's when Caitlin’s Custom Bakes entered the scene.
Scattered around the apron with my bakery’s name on it, Caitlin’s Custom Bakes, are all the tools I would use during a busy day of baking. If these tools could talk, they would have so many stories to tell. This photo really is worth a thousand words. Photo by: Caitlin Pisani
My bakery was never really about making a profit for myself. It was purely for fun and a way to fill my time, so I decided to donate a portion of my profits to various charities. Now, almost four years later I have donated a total of $3,905 to 14 different charities. There is no better feeling than knowing that through doing something I love, I am helping various different causes in the Madison area, as well as nationwide. There are many times that I will ask for ideas of where to donate, which has helped me feel a sense of connection with all of my donations. Whether I’m donating to a charity focused on cancer research or getting kids involved in sports, each cause has a special place in my heart.
The more time I have spent in the kitchen, the more I have experimented with new techniques and ideas. I always love looking for new ideas on Pinterest and testing them out. It was fun and challenging to decorate these macarons and make them a little fancier than the normally plain french cookie sandwich. Photo by: Stacey Pisani
It seems crazy that I am still running this business today, even as the world has returned to normal, but I couldn’t imagine it any other way. Through Caitlin’s Custom Bakes, I have been offered so many incredible opportunities, including being able to help celebrate my customers’ special occasions. It feels really good to see customers' faces light up when they see their desserts. With each new order, I have gotten to expand my repertoire of skills; however, with every new request also comes new fears of how I am going to live up to what my customers want. I’m a perfectionist in almost everything I do and never want anyone to be disappointed with how an order turns out. Each completed challenge motivates me to keep trying new recipes and techniques.
When I first started out, I wasn’t sure if people really were going to order desserts from a teenager, but I was very quickly proven wrong. These two desserts were such an honor to make and brought me so much pride. I had never made cookies like these before, and this was the first wedding cake I was ever asked to make. Photo by: Stacey Pisani
Each year, the time that I have available for baking has become more limited which is always a little bit sad for me. As a level 9 gymnast, I practice 16-20 hours per week, and when you throw school in the mix, it makes my schedule even busier. The community of support that I have from not only close family and friends, but also people who I’ve met as customers or even just people following along on my adventures, is the reason I want to keep doing this.
Balancing school, club gymnastics, and running a business is hard, and there have definitely been times where I thought it was time for me to step back. But the joy that people, myself included, have received from my business has motivated me to keep going. Photo by: Stacey Pisani
I love being one of the first places that people think of when they need to fill their sweet tooth craving or have a big milestone to celebrate. I love being able to share something that brings me so much joy with so many other people. I love getting to be involved in my community through my business. For those reasons and so many more, I am hopeful to continue using my passions to uplift others for as long as I am able, even if it looks a little different as I continue to chase other dreams outside of the kitchen.
Baking days pretty much always fall on the weekends unless I’m taking advantage of a rare day off. Full days of baking also mean that I pretty much end up taking over our entire kitchen, which I can’t imagine is the most convenient for the other members of my family! Their support means so much to me. Photo by: Stacey Pisani
Comments
Post a commentWaunakee Community High School Advanced English 10 - 1B
Mrs. Swanhorst's Advanced English 10 students
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Caitlin, Wow! This is such an incredible accomplishment. I loved getting to see some of your creations in your photo essay. Your story reminds me that we are all so much more than we seem on the outside and that all of us have so many hidden talents and passions. I hope you share this story with your baking community!