An Owl by any other name could not compare to the Agua Fria Owl that is Jenielle Sephia Bongo.
Jenielle is a proud AP and honor student and would not have it any other way. Through taking the challenges and hurdles of these classes, she found new skills and confidence that have made all the difference in her experience. AP lit taught her patience in her writing, to trust in herself, and a reminder of the skills that she can always work on. Her teachers Mrs. Snell and Ms. Fowler never ceases to inspire her to grow her writing abilities and to remember to trust in herself. She found that in her four years, there has always been a special connection between all of the AP students and herself. Jenielle recalled, “Taking AP classes with our peers is also something that I would always remember. How we all collectively struggle, yet somehow make it in the end.”. These classmates became a new support system, people she could turn to when she was struggling mainly because she knew that were struggling too. Ms. Bongo found a special connection in her AP History classes with Table 7, the group of people that made the class worth going to. Jenielle commented that she will forever miss the tears and laughs that were produced by classes and shared with those AP friends. For who could have expected that the trauma, joy, and struggle of Advanced Placement classes could create such bonds?
Jenielle has spent the past four years as an Agua Fria Owl and has shown what being an Owl truly means. Jenielle was a Badminton Varsity Captain as well as a member of the team for all four years of her Agua Fria experience. On the court, she wowed with her quick reflexes and determination in the face of tough competitors and a game face that could scare even the scariest players. Jenielle took badminton to the State in 2023 with many other victories from her fellow badminton teammates. Off the court, you could find her helping others with drills and techniques with encouraging words and the same tough love her teammates came to rely on. Her partner in crime in Varsity Doubles, Sofia Soto had this to say “In our years of Badminton, Jenielle had shown me what it truly means to be a student-athlete under Agua Fria standard. She pushes herself to work hard on and off the court. Having to play with Jenielle is truly a blessing in disguise as I’ve been able to have someone to laugh and look up to while playing this sport.”.
If her scholastic and athletic schedules and credibility weren’t enough, Jenielle Bongo also participated in an
internship at Abrazo Hospital. From a young age, Jenielle knew that she wanted to go into the medical field, however, she did not immediately know that she wanted to be a thoracic surgeon. But over the past year with interest in Abrazo Hospital, she felt sure of what she wanted to do. Jenielle remarked “Interning at Abrazo Hospital, I have gained more clinical experiences and have worked with numerous professionals in the field that made me confirm what exactly I wanted to do, or even if I have a chance at making it.”. However, her passion for the medical field doesn’t mean that her decisions have come easily. Like all of us, she struggled with self-confidence which was then amplified by choosing a future career. She says, “Whenever I get a result that I’m not satisfied with or when I have one of those days where it seems as if I can’t get anything right, I suddenly feel incompetent and doubt all my abilities.”.
Through her work in HOSA, Badminton, Link Crew, NHS, Journalism, Internship, and more, she has been an example to all. She will continue her path next year at the University of Arizona and double major in Biology and Physiology to get my Bachelor of Science. While there, she will continue to make us at Agua Fria proud. For once an owl, always an owl.
