Grad Spotlight - Johnny Ybarra
June 14, 2020 - 09:00 AM
When Johnny Ybarra needs an escape, he finds himself either in the kitchen or in front
of a screen with a video game controller in his hands.
鈥淚 love food, cooking, and everything else about the field. Japanese and Mexican cuisine are my most favorite of them all,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 also love video games. They鈥檙e a big part of my life and have gotten me through some of my darkest moments.鈥�
Johnny isn鈥檛 talking about Finals Week or a long shift cooking meal after meal at
the student-run Caf茅 91 restaurant. He鈥檚 talking about the first 18 years of his life.
鈥淚 am a survivor of child abuse,鈥� Johnny says. 鈥淚 would never wish it on anyone. I had a few horrible role models throughout those years, but it鈥檚 during those times that I found a couple of my biggest passions in life.鈥�
His cooking passion began when he was about 9 years old, making grilled cheese and instant ramen. As he got older, Johnny began to branch out and experiment with new recipes.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how to express it as a child, but I loved and understood texture, mouth feel, and flavor profile,鈥� he says.
During the month of June, Mt. SAC social media channels (, and ) will feature a Mountie Grad spotlight each day, sharing the stories of our students鈥� journey through Mt. SAC and where their education is taking them next. See Read Find out how being diagnosed with learning disabilities did not stop Hear soon-to-be-a-Bronco
At 18, Johnny cooked up a plan to begin to free himself from his painful past, which at first only included a pinch of Mt. SAC.
鈥淚 began my journey at Mt. SAC with a get-in and get-out mentality about getting a Culinary Arts Certificate,鈥� he says.
But when Johnny got a sample of what was on the menu
on campus, he added much more to his plate.
鈥淎s I took more classes, I got more interested in learning more skills and subjects,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ventually, I decided to earn the Hospitality and Restaurant Management degree and all of the skills certificates that can be earned with it as well.
鈥淲hen I was finally done with all of the hospitality courses, that鈥檚 when the Culinary Arts Program was announced, and I decided to earn the degree and certificate for that too.鈥�
Johnny has enjoyed working at Caf茅 91, making personal recipes for customers, preparing bread for the restaurant and meeting with patrons who wanted to give compliments to the chef.
鈥淎ll of these moments at Caf茅 91 collectively made me feel like I am definitely meant
for this career,鈥� he says. 
Graduating with all those degrees and certificates isn鈥檛 cutting into Johnny鈥檚 appetite for learning. He plans to travel and experience as much food as he can, and he will look to volunteer with organizations that help abused children. Johnny also might make some time to get lost in the stories of the Legend of Zelda series or Final Fantasy VII. But above all else, he will still be cooking up a storm.
鈥淚t feels good to know that after all the years of hard work and studying, this day has finally come,鈥� Johnny says. 鈥淚 am proud to finally be able to call myself a chef and show the world what I can do.鈥� #MtSACgrads2020