Hailey Hirschel has loved to cook since she was 7 years old.

Her mom, Belynda Hirschel, was the one who taught her the basics when she was little.

“I remember her teaching me little tricks, like when you make jello with fruit, you split the amount of water in half and use the fruit juice instead,” she said.

Now a senior at Chimacum High School, Hirschel’s passion for cooking and baking has only grown, and she plans to attend culinary school after graduating.

She’s entering adulthood at an interesting time in history. A global pandemic means Hirschel must finish her last high school moments at home, on a computer.

For her, learning away from the distractions of a high school classroom is somewhat easier. But being away from friends and missing the senior year activities is disappointing.

“It’s terrible,” she said. “Our senior year has basically been canceled.”

Hirschel was most looking forward to attending the prom and her graduation ceremony. While there is talk about a socially distant graduation at the Wheel-In Motor Movie Drive In, nothing can replace the many memories students are missing.

“Everybody else got to experience their senior year,” she said. “Why don’t we get to?”

Not only is Hirschel missing out on some senior year activities, but her summer was supposed to be filled with Rhody Royalty events — touring different towns in the state representing Jefferson County with the other royalty: her friend since grade school, Brigitte Palmer, and Rhody Queen Jennessah Seebergoss.

Most of all, Hirschel was looking forward to the hometown Rhody Festival. She’s attended the festival nearly every year of her life.

Luckily, the Rhody Festival Association allowed the Rhody Royalty another chance on the court in 2021.

“Sometimes things don’t happen the way we want them to,” Hirschel said.

By the time next summer rolls around, Hirschel will have finished a year studying culinary arts at West Sound Technical School in Bremerton.

While she plans to stick around in Jefferson County where her family lives, Hirschel sees herself five years from now working in a restaurant. She hopes by the time fall comes, classes will be in-person again, instead of online.

And down the road, she has a clear picture of restaurants full of people, with her behind the scenes wearing a chef’s toque blanche.