The Virtual Voice

Student Voice

Congratulations, Graduates!

By on June 7th, 2018

This post was written by 2017-18 FLVS Full Time Senior Class President, McKenzie Underwood.

Class of 2018, we made it! After counting down the days until graduation all year, we finally crossed the finish line. There is not a single person who did not work extremely hard to get this far. All the late nights studying, the DBAs, the live lessons, the collaborations, the final exams, they were all worth it. Be proud of yourselves, you didn’t get here by mistake.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge some of the amazing people who helped us get through the past four years of high school. Continue reading

What It’s Like Being a Student at FLVS Full Time

By on March 30th, 2018

Thinking about the past five and a half years of being a student at FLVS Full Time, it would be impossible to count all the times I was asked “Wait, you’re in virtual school? What is that like?”

Today I will answer that very question: What is it like to be a Florida Virtual School Full Time student? Continue reading

Where FLVS Students See Themselves in 20 Years

By on December 1st, 2017

FLVS has certainly grown since we first opened our virtual doors in 1997. We’ve come a long way over the years, and so have our students!

During our recent photo contest, students told us how they have grown thanks to FLVS and where they see themselves in the future. Last month, we shared our three contest winners, but there were so many amazing entries that we had to include a few honorable mentions…

Continue reading

Summer Fun

By on July 10th, 2017

This is the final post in a series by former FLVS student Makaila, a model, author, and student advocate.

Hey FLVS, it’s Mak – with my very last summer post in what has been a fun year writing for The Virtual Voice.

Summer. Summer. Summer. Those three words used to play on repeat in my head, and where from? High School Musical of course.

Summer is in full swing and you know what that means…vacation! Get excited, and enjoy your time off before a new school year begins. You earned it.

So, to get you amped for the rest of summer, let’s talk summer plans! This month, I plan to go to the beach with all my friends. I can’t wait to soak up the sun, play some volleyball on the sand, and go swimming. I go to the beach all the time, but going in the summer is always my favorite. I don’t have to worry about studying for a test, doing an extra credit assignment, or turning in a new essay.

Of course, at FLVS you may be taking a course over the summer – but that doesn’t mean you can’t relax! Continue reading

Embracing Nostalgia: The Good and The Bad

By on July 5th, 2017

This post was written by Charissa, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club. 

Have you ever passed by a place you used to visit when you were young and a nostalgic feeling started to resonate in your chest?

The feeling blew you back in time a bit, and sparked that good memory concealed in your mind to come and revisit. It was probably a joyous occasion, and that feeling of ancient and special happiness surfaces again.

Well, what if something bad happened to you? Would the nostalgic feeling be the same? I highly doubt it would. If I visited a place that held a bad memory, I would feel suffocated by air tainted with unhappiness and regret. I wouldn’t have a happy and elated feeling in my chest. I would feel empty and alone.

Something I have realized in this society is this:

We all have our good places reminding us of the joy and happiness life can bring you, but we also have our bad places that are a reminder of how the world can be messed up sometimes. Some people have one more than the other. Continue reading

AP Classes vs. Dual Enrollment

By on June 15th, 2017

This article was originally written and published in the FLVS student newspaper, News in a Click. 

AP Courses vs Dual EnrollmentIt’s a common question among high school students and their parents: AP classes or dual enrollment?

While there is no right answer for every student, each individual might find that one or both of these options suits them best. Each choice allows students to be challenged by rigorous classes, obtain college credit, improve their college applications and save money on college tuition costs. However, location, qualification requirements, method of obtaining college credit, class offerings and costs differ.

AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are created by AP development committees for the College Board. Each AP class has its own development committee comprised of six or seven high school and college instructors from around the country. The classes (including online Advanced Placement courses) and their respective exams are meant to reflect the curriculum students would encounter in a college-equivalent of that class’ subject, while in a high school setting. Continue reading

College and Beyond

By on June 9th, 2017

This is the twelfth post in a series by former FLVS student Makaila, a model, author, and student advocate.

Blog_Cover_June_CollegeHey FLVS teens! As you look ahead to your final year(s) of high school, the next couple of years may seem challenging. You may spend most of your time focusing on studying or on making straight As. It can be a challenge, and some days it can seem impossible.

I can assure you – it’s possible and you can do it (and if worse comes to worst, then a few Bs or even Cs may not be the end of the world).

So, what’s the next step? College.

It may seem so far away, and that’s what I thought in high school too. But it’s not. It is way closer than you think.

Before you know it, you’ll be going on college tours (try to schedule a few this summer!) and getting merchandise from schools you may not even attend in the end. I know I did. I only went on one college tour, and that was to Florida State. Turns out I wouldn’t get into Florida State, so here I am to this very day with shirts, hats, and mugs that I refuse to use. Continue reading

Reflections from the Class of 2017

By on June 7th, 2017

This post was written by 2016-17 FLVS Full Time National Honor Society President, Olivia Horne.

Olivia HorneFamily and friends – thank you for providing unwavering support, love and encouragement as we pursue our futures.

Teachers and staff – thank you for making those futures possible through your ability to make lifelong learning fun and our dreams accessible.

Fellow graduates – congratulations! From DBAs, to lives lessons, from collaborations to finals, we have each worked incredibly hard. We did it.

As we reach the end of our high school careers, it is only natural for us to reflect upon what led us here. And while our personal histories might differ greatly, we do have one thing in common: the community that is FLVS.

We, Class of 2017, have pursued our education on our own terms. We are the trailblazers, the innovative digital learners, those who are not afraid to take the path less traveled. We have dared to be different. We, Class of 2017, have proven our possession of the invaluable ability to define our own futures. Continue reading

Looking Back On Our Senior Year

By on June 5th, 2017

This post was written by FLVS Full Time Senior Class President, Mari Nicole Rosales. 

Senior Class President Mari Rosales with Marketing Leader Bryanna Maturen

Last Tuesday, May 30, 2017, marked the end of our high school chapter in the book that we call life.

Long gone are the days of DBAs and Blackboard live lessons. Now the time has come for us to begin our next chapter. As virtual school students, we have had quite the journey throughout high school. We are innovators and changemakers of tomorrow. Because of this, the future is limitless. It is now our turn to empower the world one step at a time with our words and actions.

As many of you know, the Florida Virtual School mascot is our lovely friend, Megabyte, the friendly robotic shark. He graces our school t-shirts and reminds us to keep on pace with our courses. Technically speaking, one megabyte is one million bytes of information. Each Florida Virtual School student is a megabyte. Gaining one million bytes of information is no easy task. As megabytes, we have learned how to be proactive, creative, and resourceful. These one million bytes we have gained from virtual school will last a lifetime. Continue reading