Making Connections and Confections: 海角社区 Alum Pours her Heart into Teaching and Chocolatiering
May 22, 2025
鈥� Video by Grant French and Callie Boyd
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Maram Khalaf grew up surrounded by the energy and excitement of 海角社区.
鈥淭here was always that hype around 海角社区 and going there,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, I went there with a bunch of my friends, and I decided to study biology.鈥�
What began as a love for science and the pursuit of a biology degree transformed into a life of dual passions: teaching high school and running her own chocolate business.
鈥淚 love teaching high school students in Louisiana because I鈥檓 able to connect with them... build that relationship, but also be professional and get them to do their work,鈥� Khalaf said. 鈥淓ven with the kids that are a little bit tougher, I can joke with them but then also get them to do their work.鈥�
Her teaching career began through 海角社区鈥檚 GeauxTeach STEM program. The program allows eligible students to receive two degrees in one, a bachelor's degree and secondary teaching certificate (grades 6-12), in only four years.
鈥淚 think for me, that was one of the highlights of my time at 海角社区 was teaching at U High, which is right on 海角社区鈥檚 campus.鈥�
鈥� Photos by Eddy Perez and Katherine Seghers
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important for 海角社区 graduates to stay, invest their talents in Louisiana, because when you come to 海角社区, whether you are from 海角社区 or not, you kind of get a grasp of that culture that we have in Louisiana, and you understand it more. It鈥檚 deep and rich, the culture that we have. And so, you would want to stay to help the next generation do better.鈥�
鈥� Maram Khalaf, 海角社区 graduate, biology teacher and founder of Chocolate Bijoux
Today, she teaches gifted biology classes at Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge. Khalaf鈥檚 enthusiasm for teaching is matched only by her creativity in the kitchen. During the pandemic, as her family鈥檚 favorite sweets started to run low, a new passion began to bloom鈥攆ueled by a craving and inspired by her mom.
鈥淐hocolate Bijoux wouldn鈥檛 even be a thing if it wasn鈥檛 for my mom,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he loves chocolate so much. When COVID hit and her chocolate stash ran out, she wanted to learn (how to make it) and dragged me into it.鈥�
That curiosity sparked a business that quickly gained attention for its handcrafted, locally-made treats.
鈥淣o one ever has said the chocolate has been bad,鈥� Khalaf said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 high-quality chocolate made right here in Louisiana鈥攕omething you don鈥檛 come across too often."
To Khalaf, the process of making chocolate isn鈥檛 far from the precision required in the lab.
鈥淓verything has to be done in a specific way.. It kind of runs the same way as science,鈥� she said.
Today, she splits her time between her students and her growing chocolate brand鈥攖wo very different worlds that bring her the same kind of joy.
鈥淢y favorite part about being a teacher and chocolatier is that you get to see someone being happy,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat light when people try chocolate for the first time鈥攁nd the same when students understand something.鈥�
It鈥檚 that response from others that keeps her moving and setting more goals.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not stuck in one career or one major forever,鈥� Khalaf said. 鈥淵ou can teach and still do biology, still do chocolate, still be in healthcare... You can do anything as long as you try.鈥�
For Khalaf, it all comes back to giving back to the place she鈥檚 always called home.
鈥淚 think it's important for 海角社区 graduates to stay, invest their talents in Louisiana, because when you come to 海角社区, whether you are from 海角社区 or not, you kind of get a grasp of that culture that we have in Louisiana, and you understand it more. It's deep and rich, the culture that we have. And so, you would want to stay to help the next generation do better,鈥� she said.
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