For first-generation black Americans whose parents are Caribbean immigrants, there is usually a traditional road map for life from the start; getting the best possible education, turning it into a successful career, is the recipe for overall stability. . Forget passion, it's all about practicality. Youngsters continue to show that it's possible to turn passion into profit, as sports nurse Helena Faustin says in her blog Foods a Nurse Can Cook.
The idea of cooking as a means of income was something Faustin didn't understand until the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, the 36-year-old's life consisted of a long stint as a nurse in New York Presbyterian Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a wife to her husband, Gregory, and a mother to their son, Gregory (8, nicknamed "TiGreg"). Lovingly means Little Greg) and his daughter Aria (6).
Speaking to Unbothered, Faustin admitted: “I fell in love with nursing but struggled with burnout early in my career. I turned more to cooking and content creation to explore nursing at the bedside.” Although the London-born and Brooklyn-born entrepreneur has achieved great success thanks to her hustle, she opens up about the burnout she's experienced at work, the challenges she's faced on her culinary journey, and the measures she's taken to maintain peace of mind.
kitchen planBeing on the front lines during COVID has resulted in more casualties than he expected for Faustin. The uncertainty of the world led him to explore cooking, a skill he learned early on from his mother, Veronica Grant, who taught him the basics. First, Faustin says: "I had to find a way to make money." Working full-time and with no time to fill and ship orders, Faustin made the executive decision to create printable digital ebooks. Irie Delights, Faustin's first cookbook, features 19 of her favorite Caribbean recipes. Eri means "friendly, good or pleasant" in Batwa. “This has proven to be a viable source of income for me, and due to the success of this book, I've created another e-book called Dinner at 30 to address people's lack of time in the kitchen. "
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With these two eBooks, YouTube revenue and brand partnerships, Faustin earned a total of $117,000 in 2021. That was enough money to cut his part-time hours at the hospital and invest more in creating culinary content. As Faustin felt he had matured during this time, he faced new challenges.
too close to the fireAnyone who has ever created an Instagram role knows how time-consuming it can be. Faustin felt this pressure and considered the transition period to publish more content. "Honestly, juggling my career at the hospital, creating content, and being at home as a wife and mother was probably the biggest challenge for me," she says. I failed miserably at the beginning of my career, I won't lie. Faustin continues. “As I've gotten older, I've really come to appreciate the importance of setting healthy boundaries and making sure I have time in my schedule. I also learned the power of saying no. Sometimes it's enough to say "no" to calm yourself down and not overwhelm yourself.
Fortunately for Faustine, she was able to connect with her loving husband, whom she refers to as "the pop-up," listening to her frustration, pouring it into a cup, and reminding her to take breaks for herself. "When you go on a trip, you need support in the form of a close colleague, friend, family member or someone else." When it comes to their culinary careers, the Fausten family is among them all.
the family eats togetherSince the beginning of her journey, the Fausten family has been more involved in opening up her content for their audience to truly understand who they are as women, mothers and nurses. You can find TiGreg by her side cooking dinner for the family, and according to Faustin, Aria isn't afraid to tell mom when grandma makes better beans (eggplant stew).
Faustin is now dedicated to infusing Haitian influences into his recipes. His mother-in-law, Raymond Faustin, taught him how to make the famous Déris Dijon dish with black rice. Faustin also shares: "Her aunt taught me how to make rings and I incorporated them into my cooking." This is Faustin's way of honoring her husband's Haitian culture while remaining true to her own. “Combine Jamaican and Haitian food, it couldn't be better. I look forward to learning more about Haitian food.” Anyone who has eaten pickled chicken (the taste of pickled vegetables) understands these facts.
recipe for successNow that Faustin is a mother, she believes that all children should learn to cook as a survival skill and that more parents should support their children's emotions.
Faustin tells people who are suffering from burnout and looking for part-time work. “I understand that burnout often happens because there are no healthy boundaries, and the first key to overcoming burnout is to give them purpose. set out to say no and create. a schedule you stick to. Set a time to watch your favorite show. Make an appointment with a spa contact your family and your circle of friends and check in if you need to see a therapist or someone you can talk to about what you're feeling or going through and use that energy and channel it into a something that excites you."
One Woman's Strong Advice is living proof that it's possible to juggle six personalities with a part-time job while eating well and keeping the peace.
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