High school is a different experience for everyone. For Farhabi Ononto, it has a been a combination of hard work, finding different communities to connect with, and figuring out who he is. A sophomore at Cardozo, Ononto doesn’t have all the most notable titles or leadership roles, but he has built his reputation of being a supportive, caring, and aspiring friend.
Throughout his two years at Cardozo so far, Ononto shared his hardest classes have been, “Spanish and AP World.” Ononto was a person who grew up with Spanish because it was always around him, so one would think taking the class would be easy — however, Ononto made it clear it wasn’t.
“Getting a high 90 in that class is trench warfare,” he said, explaining how much effort studying you have to put in and how much memorization it took to learn all the concepts of a lesson.
AP World was also no joke. AP World was his first AP class, and it was something he had never experienced before. The tests were created to be tough and the work was writing intensive. “They gave us the actual hard stimulus-based questions with the passages,” he explained. But Ononto pushed through all the tough obstacles and passed the AP exam, strengthening his inner skills and experiences. “Tough times build stronger men,” he mentioned.
All that work paid off. After grinding hours and hours, Ononto finally earned a spot on the Honor Roll. It wasn’t handed to him but instead, he earned it. Most importantly the sophomore’s passion lies in science. Getting good grades is important but it’s not the most important goal. He’s got a real goal which is sports medicine.
“I want to be in sports medicine,” he said. That aspiring dream is his motivation to get through the challenges of school.
While Ononto doesn’t have any notable leadership position yet but he isn’t shy about taking a leadership position and stepping up when people need him to step up in group projects. “I am the conductor and facilitator,” he said and his classmates would agree. The different aspects of a project such as organizing or giving criticism before presentations, Ononto will ensure it’s done.
Ononto remembers this one presentation where every group member did an amazing job on their part. “They did a very good job because they followed the commands and expressed themselves very well,” he said proudly. This showcases a reminder that leadership isn’t always about a title but it’s about having that support for someone and lifting them up when the time is needed.
And, Ononto is not just focused on academics. He’s an active and outgoing member of Model UN and the Muslim Student Association (MSA). “Gonna retire and come back in October 2025, inshallah,” he joked. During his time in MSA, he has helped organize different bake sales and other fundraisers. He even raised money to support people in Lebanon which showcases his caring and outgoing personality.
During his free time outside of school, he has taken an interest in volunteering at a doctor’s office which helped him gain experience and knowledge of what a future career in medicine would look like. He also got the experience of meeting new older and younger patients strengthening his communication, and networking skills.
When Ononto is not volunteering or being an academic prospect, he loves spending his time watching/playing soccer. Ononto is all about soccer. He plays the sport, watches it consistently, and supports his favorite team, Chelsea. His current favorite player? Cole Palmer. “He doesn’t feel cold; the cold feels him,” he said. That kind of confidence that Cole Palmer gives off is something Ononto relates to himself.
In between the excitement of soccer and the obstacles he faces at school, he’s planning for his future. He wants to get a well-sustainable job, then go to med school, and finally become a sports doctor. The experiences in High school have taught him to adapt to different situations. Ononto knows this characteristic of adaptation will help him in the near future. “When I first came to Dozo, I was the loneliest person… but I made new friends who I want to spend the rest of my life hanging around with,” he mentioned.
Ononto concluded: “Life is great, and my time at Dozo has been fantastic.” Picking and coming to Cardozo was one of Ononto’s best experiences because he made many new friendships along the way, including both teachers and students, and the memories that came with them. Dozo has become more than just a High school, it’s become a second home for Ononto.
His advice to freshmen? “Be active in the school and try to join clubs and do volunteer work and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” he reflected. “Most importantly, make friends and keep in close contact with them because that’s what life is all about.”
