Inquiry Project Reflection: Starting My Bakery Business
This semester, my Inquiry project focused on bringing a personal dream to life — starting my own bakery business. My Inquiry Question was: How can I use my experience in culinary arts to successfully launch and grow a small baking business?
Yes, the focus of my inquiry did shift since I first wrote my Personal Learning Plan. At the beginning of the second semester, I wanted to continue my original inquiry project through the Umbrella SHARE program, which was supposed to be supported by United Way. I was excited at first, but after several attempts to communicate with them, I realized I wasn’t getting the help or direct answers I needed. The support system just wasn’t there. So, I made the decision to pivot — and that’s when I chose to start this bakery business project. Initially, I wanted to focus more on making and selling chocolates, but as I began experimenting, I realized that I actually enjoy baking cakes a lot more. So, I shifted toward cake baking, and I’m truly loving the direction it’s gone.
When it comes to time management, I believe I did a good job staying consistent and focused. Between testing recipes, planning my business model, working to fund equipment, and learning new techniques, I estimate I’ve worked over 80 hours on this project. This includes both hands-on baking and the behind-the-scenes work like researching, organizing my ideas, and building my social media presence.
As for resources, I found a lot of support in my Culinary Arts classes. Chef Jonas was an incredible mentor who gave me practical tips and valuable feedback. I also used a few textbooks and plenty of YouTube tutorials from professional bakers to improve my skills and try new decorating techniques.
There were definitely challenges I had to face. Sometimes my baking didn’t turn out the way I hoped — the texture wasn’t right, or the decorations didn’t look as clean as I wanted. But instead of giving up, I kept practicing and learning from each mistake. I never let those moments disappoint me. In fact, they motivated me to get better.
Through this journey, I grew especially in the Core Competency of Personal and Social Responsibility. I had to stay disciplined to manage my time, organize my tasks, and take ownership of the entire process. It wasn’t just about baking — it was about planning, budgeting, problem-solving, and staying committed to a long-term goal. I also developed my Creative Thinking by experimenting with different recipes and presentation styles, trying to find what made my baking unique and appealing.
To share my learning, I talked about my progress with my teachers and peers and shared pictures of my baked goods. I also began planning how I’ll use Instagram and TikTok to promote my products and take orders. I haven’t launched my pages officially yet, but everything is in place for a soft launch this summer.
Looking ahead, yes — I absolutely plan to continue working on this inquiry. I hope to eventually open a physical café and possibly apply for small business funding or mentorship programs to take it further.
This project has meant so much to me — not just because of what I’ve created, but because it’s helped me believe in myself as a future entrepreneur. 💗🧁
