By Terrah Starling, ILS Facilitator
Meet Mary
Mary is a gentle, soft-spoken girl with a kind heart and a love for getting lost in a good book. She also happens to really enjoy rollercoasters too! It is exciting to celebrate and share her first success story here at Compass.
A Goal for Independence
Mary recently reached a personal milestone she’s been working toward: learning how to cook safely and confidently in her own kitchen. With encouragement, patience, and hands-on guidance from her Life Coach, Linda, Mary has grown her skills—and her confidence—one scrumptious step at a time.
Building Skills from the Start
From the beginning of her journey with Compass, Mary shared that she wanted to feel more independent when preparing her own meals. She enjoyed being in the kitchen but wasn’t always sure how to use appliances or follow recipes. Together, she and her Life Coach created a plan to build her skills gradually.
Learning Kitchen Safety First
Their first focus was safety—making sure Mary felt comfortable with essential kitchen practices such as proper handwashing, safe food handling, and avoiding common hazards. Linda also introduced Mary to the safe use of the stove, oven, microwave, and knives. They practiced identifying when surfaces were hot, how to handle sharp tools correctly, and what steps to take in case of an emergency. With each session, Mary became a little more confident.
Growing Confidence in the Kitchen
As her comfort grew, Mary began preparing simple meals. She learned how to wash and chop vegetables, measure ingredients, set timers, and clean up her workspace. Mary especially enjoyed practicing safe knife skills and using potholders—small steps that made a big difference in helping her feel more capable.
A Favorite Recipe and a Big Win
One of Mary’s proudest accomplishments is mastering her favorite recipe: chicken and vegetable stir-fry. She now prepares it with minimal reminders, remembering each safety step she practiced. Linda shared how inspiring it has been to watch Mary take the lead during their cooking sessions and how proud she is of Mary’s progress.
Looking Ahead
Mary’s success in the kitchen has boosted her independence and given her a renewed sense of confidence. She’s already looking ahead to her next goal—learning how to bake healthy muffins. With her enthusiasm and Linda’s supportive coaching, we can’t wait to see what Mary accomplishes next!