High School Student Sets Sail with Florida Virtual School

When someone recommends something new to you, do you ever think—nah, that’s not for me—and then you try it and love it? That’s basically how Florida Virtual School (FLVS) sophomore Rachel found her passion for sailing—and FLVS!  

Neither sailing nor FLVS was on Rachel’s radar until her mother recommended them. And after giving both a try, she’s found new ways to learn and grow on land and at sea. 

Learning the Ropes 

In seventh grade, Rachel attended a brick-and-mortar school where she found herself struggling in math. Her mom recommended she try online courses, so she tested the waters with FLVS Flex by taking M/J Mathematics and M/J Critical Thinking. Once she learned the ropes of learning online, she was all in and decided to enroll with FLVS Full Time for eighth grade.  

Around the same time, Rachel’s mom introduced her to sailing by signing her up for a summer camp in Michigan. “It was like an instant love story,” said Rachel who returned home, got her first recreational sailboat, and joined her local sailing team. Since joining, she’s competed in many sailboat races (also known as regattas), earned her Level One Instructor certification with U.S. Sailing, and started her own business, It’s A Breeze Sailing School, which offers private sailing lessons. 

Making Waves In and Out of the Classroom 

Now, in her third year with FLVS Full Time, Rachel has found the delicate balance between school and sailing. She takes a full course load of AP and Cambridge AICE courses, to which she is proud to say she’s excelling. In fact, this year she was invited to the Cambridge AICE Student Ambassador Program and the Spanish National Honors Society!  

Plus, with the flexibility to learn on her time, Rachel is typically able to finish her school work by Thursday night which opens up her weekends for sailing. And that’s exactly where you’ll find her—on the water, practicing, coaching, and competing.  

Full Steam Ahead 

So, what’s next? Rachel says that she plans to continue building her sailing skills and knowledge to earn her Level Two and Three certifications. After graduation, she hopes to attend the University of Michigan to study Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, continue sailing at the collegiate level, and immerse herself in as many water activities as possible.  

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