A Realized Passion: How Benny Chan Found Her True Calling
by UHCHI Staff
Benny Chan is a Prep Cook at Rate Field and is also a UNITE HERE Chicago Hospitality Institute (UHCHI) apprentice from Cohort 20. Currently, Benny is working to complete her 1,000 hours of on-the-job training towards the completion of her apprenticeship.
However, this is not the path Benny had originally intended for her life. Growing up on the Southside of Chicago, she had always been academically driven. Due to some personal challenges, Benny decided to shift gears away from pursuing a degree and began bussing tables for Lettuce Entertain You at Beatrix in the Loop. During this time curiosity sparked within her as she observed the work that the line or prep cooks were doing. Whenever Benny was given the chance to be more directly involved with food, she found it exciting and rewarding. Her experience working in the restaurant reminded her of how much she enjoyed being physically oriented and active.
When Benny joined UHCHI in January 2026, she felt immediately welcomed by the staff and developed a close relationship with the staff and Chef Instructors over the next eight weeks. Throughout her time in the training program, Benny felt it was a smooth experience. Her biggest breakthrough came at the Apprentice Showcase Banquet held in Week 7. Preparing for this event triggered feelings of anxiety and doubt resulting in her second-guessing herself. Benny received ongoing reassurance and support from UHCHI staff during her training. This support helped her face these anxieties and continue working to overcome them. Benny states “going through that experience, surviving it, and then also hearing from my Chefs that I was doing good…made me a lot stronger and more confident.” Looking back, Benny believes that the UHCHI training program was a good place to mess up, because apprentices are given feedback to encourage their growth.
When Benny started at Rate Field, she felt prepared to work in a professional kitchen. Since then, she has been given opportunities to take initiative in the workplace. She says, “Being in the kitchen really gets the energy out of me and makes me happy.” Earning a steady wage and receiving benefits through Local 1 have eased the weight on her shoulders, giving her confidence in the stability of her job.
Benny’s journey has become even more meaningful knowing that she is making her family proud. In the near future, Benny hopes to begin exploring opportunities to work with Chefs in other kitchens. She sees this as a further extension of the confidence and inspiration she developed by fully participating in the UHCHI Chef de Partie Apprenticeship program.