Question: Advice: what should I do? What would you do in my situation?

I can't believe this is like, my third - fourth question of the day on here.
But ... my parents started talking to me about it again, and I'd really like some advice.

I'm 15 years old, half French and I live in the UK.
I've been wanting to become a 'patissier' - a cake baker, really since I was eleven.

In France, if you'd just come out of your 3rd year of Secondary, you could start training in a baking school from 14. But I've already missed that mark, so now I've got to wait until I'm 16.

My parents are thinking about sending me to France when I'm 16, to live in France with some relatives and start my training.
I'll be nearly 17 by the time I might go (since I'm born in September :P), and the first thing I would have to do, would be to find a job.

For most of these training schools, you've got to find an employer who'll let you work for him at least two weeks a month, and train at school the rest of the time. And I'd have to find an employer BEFORE I go to school.

My entire family have advised me that over the next two years, I should start building a sort of portfolio (I bake pastries at least once a week, then I take pictures and post them to my facebook) to make it easier for me when (and IF) I go.

They also told me, that I should have a back up plan in case things go wrong. But to do that, I would have to wait until I'm 18 and in Year 12/13 and do my A Levels so I would have that, at least.

So ... two things. Should I wait until I've gotten my A-Levels before going to France?
And how the heck should I build a portfolio of cake pictures?
I'm debating with myself over what I should do ... I know I've got time, but I'd like to have a non familial opinion ^^

Thanks in advance. And I would be SUPER grateful if somebody would answer this question!

Answer:

I think you probably need to do some research about how viable the French option is, how possible would it be to get a job in a patisserie, and whether you'd stand a better chance now than when you're 18, it could be they're keener on school leavers and 16 is the school leaving age in the UK, or would the A Levels be a plus, or would it not make any difference, also what you would need to get a job and if they actually need a portfolio of pictures.

As to the A Levels as back-up, it's a sensible idea in a way, but A Levels are usually taken so you can go on to some form of higher education such as uni, and if you don't want to do this and your heart really isn't into doing A Levels there may not be a lot of point. Also if you try the patisserie route and it doesn't work out you can still take A Levels at a further education college after or do an access course if you still want to go into higher education.

I'm also wondering how much time you've spent in France, it might help if you could go over and stay with the relatives for a holiday to help you decide, you could maybe go over in the summer and have a look round and keep the option open for going back and doing your A Levels if it isn't easy to get a job there.

I agree completing your A levels is probably the best idea right now as you have missed out the traditional time most in France start your training. This is not like being an Olympic gymnast where if you don't start training as a child you have no hope for Olympic glory. You can certainly build your career starting a year from now after completing your formal education.

You say you bake pastries at least once per week. Taking pictures of your creations are one thing and certainly one aspect of creating a portfolio. But this is not modeling where looks are everything. Who eats your creations? Is it possible to get people other than your family to eat them and get testimonials? Perhaps a local charity, food bank or senior care home would like such treats and give some written feedback on your baking.....then you can create a scrapbook style portfolio with a picture, the recipe and testimonial comments. This to me would be a more comprehensive portfolio to show when the time comes......just an idea.

I love French pastries BTW... I travel to France once a year in summer for a month and love French cooking in general!!!

Good luck

I would do my A-levels first, you cannot guarantee anything and you will most likely regret it if you choose not to continue on with it even if you manage to create a career out of it.

If you can do exactly the same thing in 1 years time but with that extra backup then I would not see any issue in holding out for that time.

Sounds to me as if you really know the answer, but are just unsure as it goes against what your parents are advising, at the end of the day its your life and if you dont sit your A-levels it only you and not your parents that may regret it later.

Do your A-levels and improve your baking (and photography!) skills during that period.

A portfolio is just a collection of pictures to show off your baking skills.