Finding Her Rhythm: How NOCHI Has Become a Home for Anisha Dudley
Born and raised in New Orleans, Anisha Dudley found more than just a culinary education when she enrolled in the Baking & Pastry Arts certificate program at NOCHI. She found community, confidence, and a sense of belonging she didn’t expect but fully embraces.
Anisha’s journey to NOCHI started with friendships. Even before officially starting her program, she connected with students from a previous cohort who made her feel seen and welcomed. “Because I made good friends with students in the previous cohort, I was more open to being in a new environment,” she shared. “I knew I would be okay if I didn’t know something, that this was a place for learning.” That early sense of camaraderie gave her permission to walk in with an open mind, ready to learn.
Meeting students like Jaleel and Tyrell during a Garde Manger Showcase and finding out they’d be returning was a big motivator in her decision to enroll. Their presence made NOCHI feel more like a circle she was meant to be part of.
Anisha’s favorite part of the program is being in the lab. “I love the feel and the smells,” she said. “Each day I put on my chef coat and feel like a chef.” The lab has become her sanctuary, a place where simply being surrounded by professional tools makes her feel inspired. “I sit back and soak it all in.”
But the road hasn’t been without challenges. “The math curriculum has been rough,” she admits candidly, and translating recipes from the lab to her home kitchen has proven tricky. “I made the vegan cookies at home with the exact ingredients, and it didn’t come out the same.” Without all the tools and resources available at NOCHI, baking outside of the classroom can feel frustrating and unpredictable.
Still, she’s grown in unexpected ways. On the first day of the baking & pastry students’ two-week crossover into the culinary arts curriculum, she found herself breaking down a chicken, a moment she recalls as both shocking and illuminating. “I’m spoiled with Chef Zak and the peace of baking,” she says, hinting at her appreciation for the precision and calm of the pastry side.
Beyond technique, Anisha is finding her own voice. “Everyone here makes me feel more comfortable,” she says. She’s learning that connections don’t have to be loud or performative. Reflecting on a quiet classmate who persisted in forming bonds, she noted, “I don’t need to be super friendly all the time to build relationships. I don’t need to entertain anyone to connect.” Connections...
Looking ahead, Anisha’s goals are grounded and ambitious. “I plan on being very confident in everything I make and in myself,” she says. “Just because I don’t own my own business, I can still make it and do what I want.” NOCHI, she says, “is the soil where I’m planting my roots, getting my feet in the right soil to grow.”
For Anisha, NOCHI is more than a school - it’s a space where she’s finding her rhythm, her people, and her power.
