[My education] helped me to open my eyes to the real world. My instructors taught me how to do work as if I was working in the industry. Julia Villa , Pastry Maker, Baker's Crust Diploma in Baking & Pastry, 2015 , The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta

Julia Elizabeth Villa is a pastry maker at Baker’s Crust in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She’s responsible for making cookies, lemon squares, and candied pecans. “I have gotten many compliments on what I make and I’m very proud of that because I know that I’m doing something right,” she says.

Julia adds that she enjoys being able to do what she loves for a career. “I also enjoy learning new things along the way and finding out that I can do things I never knew I could do.” She says that her creative heroes are her parents, who pushed and supported her. Julia says that she finds creative inspiration on The Food Network and Pinterest.

She advises current students to be passionate about their career choice. “If there’s no passion, you won’t be successful. You need to be motivated. Make sure you put all the energy that you have into your job.” 

Julia, who in 2015 earned a Baking & Pastry Diploma from The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, says that her education provided the fundamentals needed to transition into the creative workplace. “[My education] helped me to open my eyes to the real world. My instructors taught me how to do work as if I was working in the industry. I also learned that it’s ok to make mistakes.”


The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a campus of The Art Institute of Atlanta, is certified to operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia pursuant to Title 23, Chapter 21.1, §23-276.4 of the Code of Virginia by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (James Monroe Building, 101 North 14th St; Richmond, VA 23219; 804-225-2600;www.schev.edu).