In 2014, a five-year-old girl boarded a plane in Haiti, bound for a country she had never seen, not knowing a single word of English. Today, Genese Bowers is about to graduate from Foothill Technology High School in Ventura. This fall, she’ll be headed to Cal Poly Pomona to study plant science and agricultural business.
Looking back, Genese still marvels at the courage of her five-year-old self. “It was scary,” she recalls of her journey from an orphanage in Haiti to a new life in Ventura. “I have little memories of me sitting on the plane with these almost strangers. It was just crazy thinking back to it.”
Jo Bowers is Genese’s adoptive mother. She’s a single parent who also adopted a son from a Haitian orphanage, bringing two adoptive siblings together into her heart and home. For Genese, the transition required immense resilience. Though she quickly learned to speak English, she often felt she was running to catch up when it came to writing. “I didn’t grow up here, so I didn’t build that foundation,” she said. “I felt like I had to compete with other people because my English was more surface-level.”
Yet, Genese refused to let those challenges define her. She sought mentorship from supportive teachers, threw herself into community service with the school’s Interact Club, and nurtured a personal sanctuary in the form of a backyard garden. This hobby blossomed into a passion, leading her to pursue plant science. “I’ve always kind of had this love of plants, and I thought I’d like to look into it as a potential career.”
Her hard work paid off. Genese received acceptance letters from several universities, including the University of Oregon and UC Riverside, before committing to the hands-on agricultural program at Cal Poly Pomona.
As Genese prepares to cultivate her future in college, she also keeps Haiti in her heart, hoping to return one day. “It has its struggles, but with help, I think it could become a wonderful place,” she said. “There are so many people there who, like me, could use someone to lead them onto the right path.”
With graduation day approaching, Genese is full of gratitude to her mom, who helped her get to this point in so many ways. “I just want to tell her thank you for all that you do. I truly couldn’t have been here without you,” Genese said. “Thank you for being a part of my life and building a new home. It’s a lot to carry, having two kids from another country and having to provide. Thank you for creating and building this foundation for me and allowing me to grow.”