J is for Winner

Janessa Monchery, Staff Writer|December 3, 2021

In this edition of The Blue and White, we will be exploring the life of  Jennifer Cifuentes. She is a fun-loving and highly motivated queen whose personality lights up every room she’s in. It’s no surprise that she is the star at just about every competition at Apopka High, like a Homecoming queen. 

 You’ve won various school events like Homecoming; how do you think you’ve become so popular within the class of 2022? 

I would say I just have the most supportive people I call friends. To be completely honest, I didn’t have high expectations for myself, but I knew if I didn’t run, I would regret not putting myself out there and my classmates were encouraging and put in a good word for me through all of the season. One thing about me is I will shamelessly talk to everybody and their mommas, quite literally, and with that, I hope I can make it easier for people to feel they can talk to me whenever. But if not for a great bunch, I wouldn’t be where I am, and for that, I am grateful.

What are your top three universities and why?

My top 3 schools are UCF, UF, and USF. I considered applying to out-of-state schools, but Florida is home, and Florida also has Bright Futures and warmer weather 🙂

What clubs are you participating in this year?

I am in Senior Class Council, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta, Tri-M, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Science National HS.

Do you have any hobbies that you feel scream “Jennifer”? 

Water polo! I also love to sing, paint, shop, and Minesweeper.

What do you plan on majoring in, and what is your dream career?

I plan on majoring in Engineering, possibly being a math minor. I want to be an engineer with a job that lets me get fresh air and takes me to new places. I just want a happy life.

 When you look back on these 4 years, what experiences do you think will last you throughout college, if not your life? 

Skill-wise, probably learning to balance workloads. I wouldn’t say I’m the best when it comes to managing my time, but I somehow get stuff done, and I am currently working on it; I’ve gotten this far! Life-wise, my crystal intelligence has gone up! There’s a lot of things I’ve learned from the cool classes I’ve taken that I use to analyze people and situations, recall a historical person or event at a corny meme, math jokes, and random science occurrences I have learned that make me sound like I know what I’m talking about. I’ve also gained wisdom from my school mentors that have played a role in my no longer child arc. I think they’ll last me a lifetime.

 How do you view graduation? Is it a sad end to four years of fun? Is it the start of your independence? Or is it a new canvas being laid out in front of you?

I think I’m going to cry at graduation, both happy and sad tears. Starting a life that would determine where I will be when I’m an old lady is scary, but for my peace, I think I’ll be a nice old lady like the old people I love. I plan on staying away for college and learning to become an independent woman, at least a bit from my parents, to be better prepared and tackle taxes! I hope it isn’t a final goodbye for most after graduation because I would love to stay in touch and be a part of everyone else’s journeys coming from the same nest. I also hope everyone attends reunions. Like that song from High School Musical: It’s the start of something new!