We were lucky to catch up with Chetelvia Thompson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Chetelvia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Imagine having a dream that you can never stop thinking about and the enemy knew about your dream and put everything on your path to make you give up, but you never gave up. That is a risk that you have taken which end up being so many risks to get you to your desired goal.

This year of 2022 my whole life crumbled in front of my face. I honestly thought I had life together. Having my own apartment, car and feeling somewhat stable in my early 20’s. What nobody ever told me is that you will never truly have it together you just find a way to handle your chaos! I was in a rat race of paying my bills, I thought that was just life, but I had to sit after a major break down and ask what I am doing wrong. I surrendered to the plan that God had for me and my vision instead of trying to figure it out by myself and that led me to get rid of the things I thought that I needed temporarily in order to get on the plan of righteousness. I sacrificed my car and apartment of course along the way God blessed me so I did not really lose out, but he showed me the important things in life this year and what stayed intact was my dream, Boujie SoulFood and while getting on God’s plan I went to school and graduated majoring in Massage Therapy. I now experience Fulfillment and Gratitude that I would have known existed had I have not taken the risk of the unknown.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

At heart I am a Chef. Of course, I watched my Grandma in the kitchen. Now that I am thinking about it any family event, I attended I was in the kitchen on the sidelines just watching the women of the household hold down the kitchen and make sure that everybody was pleased with their plates. I learned true hospitality growing up watching people in the kitchen because Food is what really connects us.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I remember moving into my new apartment and my car breaking down the next day! My car was my money maker because at the time I was doing Instacart, Door Dash and cleaning people’s homes simultaneously. When my car broke down for 2 weeks I was messed up and I did not know what to do. I had to shake my funk and just get outside I learned about the trains and buses because they became my best friend. Some days I did not even have the fare or know where I was going to get it from but somehow, I still ended up getting to and from. Now keep in mind I am a quiet person, so I literally asked nobody for help I also did not let anybody know what I was going through. If I could go back, I would have opened my mouth a little bit more because there are people that are out here willing to help. After the rat race of trying to pay rent and not making ends meet months down the road of course my landlord was like, “Times up” worse thing to hear when you are doing everything solo. I will never forget moving out my whole apartment by myself and then still showing up to class the next day like nothing happened!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

In the cooking industry as a woman, you have to have tough skin. I was so soft when I was first introduced into this world, but I will tell you one thing. Working those kitchens in Georgia (anywhere) will mold you into your internal beast. It is all about your mindset and knowing your craft. When you know your stuff, nobody can tell you anything. All you need is Confidence, Charm and Charisma and the industry, world is yours!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: _BoujieSoulFood_