Our guest in this edition of KCP Alumni Spotlight is Mariana Arango Abello, Class of 2014. Mariana is a chef who graduated from the Gato Dumas Institute, a gastronomical influencer of @marrana.eats with more than 60,000 followers, and has multiple projects, such as her own ice cream company, Jars by Marrana Eats, a travel agency, Marrano’s Travel, and is the Creative Director of several projects and restaurants in Colombia. Among her most recent projects, she is the chef of a signature Colombian concept restaurant about to open in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mariana shared tips and her memories of KCP with us.
How has your KCP experience impacted your life and the choices you have made in your career?
My KCP experience has been instrumental in shaping the person I am today and the choices I have made in my career. It provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and a passion for learning that has been invaluable throughout my journey. The school environment fostered a spirit of curiosity, encouraged exploration, and taught me the value of hard work and perseverance.
Furthermore, the school allowed me to explore my creativity in the bake sale, and entrepreneurial projects. This allowed me to discover my love for culinary arts, eventually becoming a chef and entrepreneur. It taught me to embrace my passions and follow my dreams fearlessly.
What was the inspiration behind your brand?
It initially started with just a pure passion for food. It then evolved into a food blog and eventually led me to pursue a culinary arts degree. The food itself and the world around it… just shakes my floor.. that inspired me to create many businesses around it.
What advice would you give KCP students, especially those who would like to take a career path similar to yours?
My best advice will always be to follow your heart. Listen to your heart, passion, and what truly moves you. Don’t just pursue a career because it’s what others will study, or because someone told you so. In the end, it is what you will be working on every day for the rest of your life.
What are some of your best memories or experiences from your time at KCP?
For me, it was the time you get to spend with your friends and how you’re constantly around them.. make sure you appreciate that because afterward time gets really limited and you’ll get to see them every once in a while.
What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP Family?
KCP was my school and my home for so many years and it shaped me to be the person I am today, I will always carry KCP in my heart. Once a tiger, always a tiger.
Links & Articles
