From college dropout to realising baking dream

Leaving Cert results day brings nerves, uncertainty and some big decisions for students looking ahead to what they will do next.

A young baker from Co Kildare wants them to know that "it is not the end of the world" if they make the wrong decision or do not get the course they hoped for.

Alice Kelly has just published her first cookbook and has five million followers across her 'From Scratch Baker' social media accounts, where she has been sharing her journey and her bakes.

But her path to success came with some bumps in the road.

Alice began a culinary arts degree course after school as she thought it was her dream. Two months in, however, she made the decision to drop out after realising it was not for her.

"I went into working a minimum wage waitressing job after that, and it was one of the best things I did for myself because it gave me the time to think about what I really wanted to do with my life," she said.

Alice realised that baking was her passion and she is now about to graduate with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts Management from TU Dublin.

She said she had not even realised baking was a course when she was filling in her CAO in sixth year.

"Going back to bakery school, I did have that worry that this wouldn't be right for me again. Am I making the decision to go back to college and I'm going to feel the same way? But thankfully it wasn't like that," she said.

"It's really not the end of the world if you make the wrong decision the first or second or third time around. There are always other options like PLCs, internships ...

"If you know you've made the wrong decision, no one is as far ahead of you as you think, it's OK to stop and restart."

Alice said she finds it 'astonishing' that she is now making a living from something she loves so much.

"Baking, I can tell this is what I want to do for the rest of my life."