Student Testimonials

Words can't describe the amount of gratitude I have for the Connetquot High School's Business Department. From the variety of classes offered to the dedicated and amazing teachers standing in-front of the classroom, I think I can speak for all of us that we found a home in this department that would follow us in our journey through college and beyond. I graduated from Connetquot in 2015 and that same year started the Accounting program at The University of Tampa (UT). Starting my freshman year of college with nearly 40 credits, most of which earned through the business classes at CHS, gave me the flexibility to jumpstart my major classes. Not only did the credits I was able to purchase through SUNY Farmingdale excuse me from taking certain courses, but it also gave me the ability to graduate early, giving me a leg up on my peers.

One specific example of how the business classes at CHS gave me an advantage in my college courses was in my Business Law course. My professor told us on the first day, "You're lucky if you get a C in this class." Luckily, I was able to apply my previous knowledge from Mrs. Senft's Business Law I class and Mrs. Rapone's Business Law II & Mock Trials class to end the semester with an AB (88-92%). I can't forget to mention the incredible experience I had in Mr. Jeffares' Virtual Enterprise class. The success and experiences I personally had through this class were beneficial in more ways than just in the classroom. The class allowed me to grow as a public speaker, learn how to collaborate with people who are a lot different than I am, and I learned how to delegate work instead of taking it all on my own.

Time and time again, professors at UT had asked if we had any experience in our field. My response was always yes thanks to the CHS Business Department. Between the Citi Bank Summer Internship offered through Mrs. Fantry in 2014 and an internship with a local CPA firm courtesy of Mr. Olin’s testimony of my work ethic, my peers looked at me in awe and jealousy because their high schools didn't offer similar or, in some cases, any opportunities like the ones offered through CHS.

With the help of the business teachers at CHS, I was able to utilize my networking and public speaking skills to meet someone working at Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. By the end of my first semester at UT, I had secured a long-term internship at Amalie Arena as an Accounting Intern. In my interview back in 2015, they were blown away with all of the hands-on experience I already had as a freshman in college and the professionalism of someone my age who was applying for a position generally held by juniors or seniors in college. I proved myself through my extensive knowledge and personable skills and was later promoted to a part-time position as an Accounting Assistant. I loved this job and because of my early start, I had the ability to work there until I graduated in 2019 and on top of that, earn an hourly wage as I finished my education. Who would've thought that I would have a paid internship lined up for my 4 years of college after just three months of my first year in college?

All of this previous experience later led to my success in landing a 2018 summer internship with Deloitte & Touche, LLC in Tampa. Deloitte is a global accounting firm and is part of the “Big 4” in the accounting industry. At the end of internship, I secured a full-time position for January 2020 as a First-Year Auditor. I later graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Accounting in December 2018 with a 3.88 GPA and continued my education at UT and received my Master of Science in Accounting in August 2019 with a 3.81 GPA. While my friends were walking for graduation in 2019 with their bachelor degrees, I proudly walked across the stage receiving my master’s degree. Since graduating, I took and passed all four parts of the Certified Public Accountant Exam (CPA Exam).

By the age of 21, I earned a bachelor degree, a master degree, landed a full-time job, and passed my CPA Exam. The CHS Business Department gave me the foundation, skills, and support I needed to achieve all that I have done.

When I reflect on my experience as a business student at Connetquot, I think of how fortunate I was to have had the opportunity to learn about different business concentrations from educators who had firsthand experience within the industry. Connetquot offered several classes which covered a variety of different topics, ranging from accounting and finance to marketing and management. Having the opportunity to take a wide range of classes helped me to determine what I could and could not see myself studying in college, which in turn allowed me to forge a path toward my current career. My experience in the business department at Connetquot was extremely positive and helped prepare me for the coursework I would experience in college.

As helpful as the course offerings were, I would say the highlight of my experience was the teachers themselves. My learning experience didn’t stop in the classroom, as my teachers were always willing to talk with me about their own experiences in their careers and give me candid feedback about the parts of their industry that they liked and what they didn’t. The teachers at Connetquot did a great job bringing real world business concepts into the classroom and making them relatable to students with no industry experience. More importantly, my teachers took interest in me and did whatever they could to provide a worthwhile experience, which is something I will always appreciate.

I am extremely grateful for the experience I had as a business student at Connetquot, and believe it helped lead me to where I am today.

In High school, students need to make numerous decisions, like where to go to college and what to do in the future. My experience at Connetquot helped me prepare for college and discover my passion for business. From my freshmen to senior year I took several business classes from Intro to Marketing with Mrs. Fantry, Business Law with Mrs. Senft, Personal Finance Literacy with Mrs. Rapone and Virtual Enterprise with Mr. Jeffares. All of the business teachers at Connetquot are truly amazing; they are extremely knowledgeable and have a passion to teach. To this day, I still use the information I learned from business classes in high school. I think Personal Finance should be required; everyone needs to learn how to write a check and manage money before it’s too late.

I graduated from Connetquot in 2016 and went on to study Business Management at Farmingdale State College. Since I enrolled in so many business classes with optional college credits, I was able to graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Business in May 2019. Currently, I work in the Loan Servicing Department at Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU), and I am also pursuing my Master's in Business Administration at St. Joseph’s College.

The business department at Connetquot high school truly helped me prepare for college. While at CHS, I took numerous business classes. My first interaction with the business department was as a freshman when I took Wall Street. This class sparked my passion for business and gave me a taste of how the stock market works. Two of the most important and useful classes that I felt prepared were college accounting and VE. It was these two classes that set-in stone that I wanted to pursue businesses in college. Another great class that I took was entrepreneurship because it introduced me to the path often less traveled. The guest speakers that we had come in to speak to us provided me different perspectives on what it means to be successful.

I cannot express how grateful I am for the amazing teachers that I had in the business department. Everyone was very supportive and helpful during my time in high school. My teachers in high school laid a strong foundation and helped me get where I am today. In December 2019 will be graduating from the S.C. Johnson College of Business at Cornell University.

Connetquot High School’s Business Department courses focuses on immersing high school students into the world of business, whether it be in finance, accounting, management, or marketing. The coursework hones in on equipping its students with a strong fundamental knowledge of business so that they are well prepared for college. The faculty in the department have real-life experience working in diverse areas of business which is a major benefit for students.

While at Connetquot, I took numerous courses in the business section and it prepared me well as a finance major at Hofstra University. Additionally, Connetquot Business partners with universities to offer its courses for college credit, which personally set me ahead.

Currently, I work as an Investment Consultant for BNY Mellon Investment Management in downtown New York City. I focus on helping institutional investors achieve their financial goals. I’d like to thank Connetquot teachers, Mrs. Kristen Fantry and Mr. Ryan Olin on the profound impact that they have made on peaking my interest in business as well as providing me with the tools to succeed in college.