Canton Whiz Kid: Sean Walsh

Name: Sean Walsh

School: Senior at

Accomplishment: Accepted to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the nation.

Key to Awesomeness: Sean says it best, broken down into categories:

Academic success/Balancing work and life:

"My key to academic success has been my organizational skills and my drive to succeed. For me, school and virtually all things are greatly simplified when you know where things are when you need them. Also, my drive to succeed has largely come from me wanting to please myself but also make my family proud and not disappoint my parents. I balance my workload with other obligations by using my time wisely. I have found that I have an awful problem with procrastination. I just can’t seem to motivate myself to get my homework done sometimes. To get around this problem, I always try to get my homework done in school at the end of class or when I am not doing anything so when I get home my workload is much lighter."

Why culinary?

"When I was in ninth grade, I really wanted to go into the Drafting program at school but I was placed in Culinary which was my second choice. I have always liked food and cooking but never really wanted to go into the field. After a few weeks in Culinary, I was hooked. I loved it! Being on my feet, learning new recipes, it was great! After being in the program for a while, I was notified that a space had opened up in the Drafting program, but there was no going back for me. I knew the excitement of the kitchen was for me."

Why the CIA and what are you excited about for college?

"The reason I am most excited about college is meeting new people and learning a lot more about the thing I love – food and cooking, specifically baking. The reason I chose the CIA was for its amazing reputation for being one of the country’s best culinary schools. Also, the CIA has a unique atmosphere. Everyone there loves food just like me and everyone understands the importance of food in making people happy."

Future plans?

"My future plans are to graduate from the CIA and work as a pastry chef. I would love to have the opportunity to work with some famous chefs and travel the world learning new things and mastering my skills. Someday I would love to maybe open up a bakery or cafe. My dream job would be to become an Executive Pastry chef at a hotel or restaurant."

Other activities?

"The only extracurricular activity I have participated in at school is SkillsUSA (a national organization for vocational students). I placed third last year in the district competitions for the Commercial Baking category and I am competing again this year and hope to place first or second for a chance to go to the state competition. 

"Outside of school I keep myself busy by volunteering at the Braintree Community Food Pantry, which I have been doing for about three years now. Also, I work at Linden Ponds, a retirement community located in Hingham. I work in the kitchen and have been working there for almost a year now."

What did you like best about Blue Hills?

"Some of my favorite things about going to school at Blue Hills are all of the kind and supportive teachers who have helped me to succeed in all of my school work and have also helped me get high scores on the MCAS, which has given me the honor of being an Adams Scholar. Also, one of my favorite things about going to Blue Hills is the rotating schedule which gave me a break from classwork for a week."

Congratulations Sean!