Mid City Times

Oforitsenere Bodunrin was only 10 when she started her freshman year at Martin High School, but that didn’t stop her from making the most of her time and excelling as a high schooler.

Now, at only 14, she’s about to graduate.

“It feels good to be graduating with the class of 2023,” Bodunrin said. “It’s interesting to be in this position because sometimes I compare myself to my peers who are older but then I think about it and realize graduating at 14 is a huge accomplishment.”

Bodunrin packed a lot into her four years at Martin. She served as president of Key Club and she was an editor for Martin Student News, a historian for the Black Student Union (BSU), a Future Business Leaders of America state finalist, president of the Filmmaker’s Society and historian for the National Art Honors Society.

After graduation, Bodunrin plans to attend the University of Texas at Arlington to study computer science and aviation. She credits her interest in aviation to a seminar she attended her freshman year and her older sister, Fifehanmi Bodunrin. Fifehanmi also graduated from Martin at 14 years old and is currently a student at LeTourneau University studying to become a pilot.

Oforitsenere’s mother and father have been instrumental in the success of both of their daughters and passed on their spirit of resiliency and dedication.

“Oforitsenere getting out of school so early is a huge accomplishment,” said Bawo Bodurin, Oforitsenere’s mother. “I am incredibly grateful for schools like Martin in Arlington ISD.”

Despite her success, it wasn’t easy for Bodunrin when she first started at Martin. It was a struggle for her to come out of her shell as a 10-year-old. But her AP human geography and African American studies teacher, Gerri Brown, offered guidance and support that helped her on her journey.

“Oforitsenere is an outstanding student, she did everything she needed to do to ensure she was successful,” Brown said. “She always participated in class even though she was so young, and I adored that. I am so remarkably proud of Oforitsenere. She has been fun, sweet and studious as a student and leader, and I can’t wait to see what she will do. I know she will save the world.”

To learn more about the 2023 graduations, visit our graduation page at www.aisd.net/graduation/. 

Original source can be found here.