A Slice of Perseverance: Shreka Junior’s Rise in Baking

Shreka Junior fell in love with baking long before she ever set foot in a professional kitchen. At just eleven years old, she was captivated by cake-decorating shows like Cake Wars, not only by the beauty of the finished cakes, but by the way creativity and hard work could come together to make people happy. From that moment on, she knew this wasn’t just something she enjoyed. It was something she wanted to build her life around.

In 2017, a year after graduating high school, Shreka began working in a grocery store bakery. She started as a general bakery employee, but her eyes were always on the decorators. She practiced at home, studied designs, and dreamed of doing that work herself. After about a year, she finally asked her manager for a chance. Even though she had only practiced outside of work, he believed in her. After seeing photos of her cakes, he told her he knew she was going to be great. This was a moment that gave Shreka the confidence she needed to keep going.

Not everyone offered that same support. At that job, the head decorator refused to teach her, forcing Shreka to stand back and learn on her own. The experience made her question herself and whether she was truly good enough. When she was once asked to make a two-tier cake, she admitted she’d never done one before and asked for help. Instead of guidance, a manager told her that if she couldn’t do it, she shouldn’t have taken the job. The words hurt but they also lit a fire. Shreka knew everyone has to start somewhere, and she was determined to prove that she belonged.

She went home and practiced nonstop, baking for family and friends, watching tutorials, and taking small classes whenever she could. That dedication paid off at her next bakery job, where she stayed for two years and finally felt supported. Customers loved her cakes and consistently complimented her work, helping her rebuild her confidence. She worked on breads, cookies, cupcakes, and cakes every day, learning something new with each shift and growing more certain that this was her path.

Later, Shreka became the head decorator at another bakery, a role she held for three years until the business closed in December 2024. That position taught her leadership, patience, and confidence. Her cakes became well known, and customers trusted her with their most important moments: birthdays, weddings, and baby showers. Managers asked if she had gone to culinary school, and people often encouraged her to open her own bakery one day. For Shreka, it was a powerful realization of how far she had come, from self-taught and unsure to a professional others admired and relied on.

Despite her success, Shreka knew she wanted more formal, in-depth training. After teaching herself for so many years, she came to NOCHI to refine her technique and build a stronger foundation. Since starting the program, she’s embraced every part of the experience. She credits the welcoming staff, hands-on instructors, and fast-paced environment for keeping her engaged, even on the toughest days. Adjusting to the sense of urgency in the kitchen was a challenge at first, but once she found her rhythm, she learned how to adapt quickly, just like in a real bakery. One surprise along the way? Discovering just how complex croissant production really is.

Shreka’s journey, resilience, and dedication earned her the Fall ‘25 Alma Knife Award, presented to a student from an underrepresented population who has endured personal or professional challenges while pursuing a career in the culinary industry. The award includes a hand-forged 180mm Gyuto knife made from 52100 carbon steel with a dyed burl handle, valued at $400, along with a year of complimentary blade care and sharpening from Coutelier NOLA. More than just a tool, the knife represents recognition of Shreka’s perseverance and belief in her potential.

Looking ahead, Shreka hopes to work in a kitchen where she can fully utilize her skills and one day, open her own bakery. With the tools, fundamentals, and knowledge she’s gained at NOCHI, she feels prepared to take that next step with confidence.

Shreka Junior’s story is a testament to persistence, passion, and refusing to let anyone else define your limits. The Alma Knife Award honors where she’s been and points toward the bright future she’s building, one cake at a time.