Patisserie for pep

Baking has many benefits, among which is good mental health. At the heart of baking are the feel-good factors of creating and giving. One psychology study says that engaging in creative activities makes people happier in daily life. Doing it for others increases your life’s meaning when it’s something good for the world.

For Shafikah Nuriman Md Nazri, her baking hobby since childhood is turning into a wonderful way to share its joys with others. Not only is the love of baking becoming a lifelong passion, it has also led her to altruism.

“This period of social distancing, we can all do with a lot of cheering up. I’m happy that I can make others happy, too, by the amazing aroma of freshly baked cakes and cookies. It has been an incredibly busy time for me fulfilling orders, but also a good sign that I can start thinking about a full-fledged bakery of my own and cheer even more people up.”

Currently pursuing a Bachelor in Patisserie Arts (Hons) degree at the School of Hospitality and Creative Arts (SHCA) of Management and Science University (MSU), the Dean's List Award recipient every semester since her Diploma in Culinary Arts (DCA) years, and Gold Medallist for Cake Decorating at MSU's Young Chefs Battlefield, receives tremendous support from lecturers and fellow students on campus. The regulars even help promote her specialty cakes, cupcakes, brownies, pavlova, and cookies; creating an income funding her study and supporting her family.

Though business is booming, Shafikah understands the importance of getting good grades and mastering all the necessary skills; putting her education first. She had come to DCA at MSU on recommendation by a family friend and from accounting studies elsewhere. The committed full-time student has had to decline orders sometimes, when they clash with classes, personal competency activities on campus, or competitions – which have included the Melaka Culinary Challenge 2019, the Culinaire Challenge 2019 in the Elegant & Stylish Cake category, and the World Chefs Championship 2020 where she clinched the bronze medal in the Christmas Cookies category.

“To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to have an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s good that entrepreneurship is inculcated across all the academic disciplines at MSU, embedded in the University’s curriculum and ecosystem. And PEC (Personal Enrichment Competency) builds my confidence, improves my soft skills when dealing with customers.”