WOODBURY — Most kids aspire to be something pretty normal when they grow up: a doctor, nurse, vet, construction worker, things along those lines. For Abegail Diezel, her dreams were unique: she wanted to be a monster truck driver and a marine biologist, and has spent her time working towards those goals.
Diezel still had a way to go until she could be either of those, so she applied to Nonnewaug and went through the intricate application process of writing an essay, finding references, and holding an interview with head of the agricultural department Ed Belinsky.
Soon, the admission letter came, and Diezel was accepted into Nonnewaug High School for her freshman year.
“When I got into the school, I was nervous,” said Diezel. “It was gonna be a totally different experience. I would have to make new friends, meet new people, and do a whole different curriculum other than just the normal classes that you had to take.”
Even though Diezel was going to have to adjust to all the new changes, the agriscience teachers and older students were there to push and support her.
“My freshman year people pushed me a lot to get involved in many different things,”said Diezel.“I did Quiz Bowl and Conduct CDE. I helped out a lot after school because teachers just thought I was a good kid and I think wanted me to go somewhere good with my life.”
Diezel’s freshman year ag teacher, Marisa Bedron, talks about Diezel’s character freshman year.
“Abby was quiet,” said Bedron. “She was a dedicated student who got her work done, and wanted to be engaged in FFA.”
In freshman year, the students that take ag have to go through the exploratory ag classes: tractor driving, FFA where official dress is taught, FFA creed, animal science, plant science/landscaping, and mechanics. All these classes helped Diezel become a well-rounded FFA member.
Students are required to take these courses so they can learn all the opportunities that the program offers and decide their future career path.
“I wanted to take mechanics, but mechanics never happened,” said Diezel. “Aqua culture happened and that was my one class I really love. I look forward to it every single day. Now that I’m a senior, I’ve decided to change what I want to do when I’m older, and I want to go into aquaculture in hydroponics, aquap
onics, and fisheries because I really, really like the class.”
Leanne Foster also enjoys having Diezel in class, and expresses it with confidence.
“I really enjoy having Abby as a student.” Foster said. “She’s always very diligent with making sure that she’s doing her work and paying attention. Abby does a really nice job with essentially being able to absorb the information and then be able to utilize that for whatever she needs to do in class. She does a really great job just being a self advocate, along with helping other students whenever they need. So Abby I would say is probably one of my go-to kids for aqua.”
Along with having aquaculture her senior year, Diezel is also an officer for the Woodbury FFA chapter, and Leanne Foster is also Diezel’s advisor for the FFA chapter officers.
“She does a really nice job at being a chapter officer,” Foster said. “All of those qualities that I just mentioned, Abby also brings that into her officer team. She does a nice job thinking of those details that need to be done. She does a nice job kind of being able to calm the room down a little bit.”
