Dilia Ochoa

Most bakeries and cafés close for the evening, but Dilia Damaris Ochoa has a different idea.

The Triton College culinary student dreams of opening an overnight café where customers can satisfy their late-night cravings with freshly baked cookies, desserts and coffee. For Ochoa, this is more than a business idea. It’s a way of turning her passion for baking into a dream career.

After discovering her love for baking and pastry while taking culinary classes in high school, Ochoa decided to enroll in Triton’s Hospitality Industry Administration (HIA) program to make that dream a reality.

“I wanted to attend Triton because it’s a community college that feels open and welcoming,” she explained. “The HIA program is amazing.”

Ochoa said she appreciates how instructor Chef Petrina Collins encourages students to work independently while providing guidance along the way. Chef Petrina is patient and understands that each student comes with a different skill level, Ochoa said.

She also appreciates the one-on-one time Collins spends with students, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and learn from their mistakes without feeling embarrassed. 

“I like learning from her since she’s worked in the culinary industry for many years,” Ochoa explained. “I appreciate her experience.”

Beyond baking, Triton is helping Ochoa explore different areas that she believes will be useful as a future business owner. She’s also taking psychology classes to develop her communication skills and better understand how to work with others.

After earning her degree from Triton, she hopes to open her own business and bring her vision for an overnight café to life.

For now, Ochoa is content as a culinary student, baking up big dreams for the future.  

“Triton is the best place for me,” she said. “I feel right at home.”