By: Haiden Zapf, Senior at Florida Virtual High School

Hello everyone! My name is Haiden Zapf, and I am a senior with Florida Virtual Full Time Public Schools. I’ve grown tremendously thanks to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses available through Florida Virtual School (FLVS). In honor of CTE Month, I’m excited to share how these programs have shaped my education, ambitions, and future career path. 

My Start with FLVS and Academic Journey with CTE Programs

I joined FLVS at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019. I’ve done my best to maintain a consistent A-honor roll, focusing on completing my coursework with accuracy and intention, not rushing through it. 

Through FLVS, I’ve earned certifications in foundational Python and JavaScript, as well as gained hands-on experience with Microsoft Office 365 in a professional context. Each course challenged me to think differently and helped me build a strong technical foundation.

CTE Pathways I Completed Through FLVS

FLVS offers a wide range of CTE pathways, and I’m proud to have completed several of them:

• Computer Science Principles Pathway (Flex and Full Time Students)
• Web Application Development and Programming Pathway (Flex and Full Time Students)
• Applied Cybersecurity Pathway (Flex and Full Time Students)
• Data Science and Machine Learning Pathway (Flex with some Full Time exceptions)
  

Dual Enrollment and Expanding My Technical Skills

Completing these pathways motivated me to become dual-enrolled at Daytona State College, where I have experimented with Linux virtual machines, learned how Windows 10 works, explored modern cybersecurity tactics, and, most recently, explored how cloud computing can be used in a workspace. I am now pursuing an Associate of Science degree alongside my high school diploma. 

This experience has helped me build a strong foundation for my future career, especially in a field where safeguarding online data is more important than ever. With the rise of cyber threats, protecting information from potential threat actors has become crucial, and I feel more prepared to take on that responsibility.

Balancing Academics, Athletics, and Personal Growth

In addition to my coursework, the flexibility that FLVS provides has allowed me to train with my soccer team, ranging from the National Premier League and MLS NEXT to the United Premier Soccer League.

I have been able to schedule private sessions with professional goalkeeper coaches and thus push myself further in life than would have been possible in a traditional school. Besides working at my own pace, being an FLVS student has enabled me to attend these sessions over the years. This has pushed me to become a better person, on and off the field. In essence, balancing my athleticism with my education through a free schedule has taught me self-integrity, self-reliance, and self-perseverance: all things I value most in a healthy individual in modern life.  

About the author: Haiden Zapf (Ocoee) is a senior in the FLVS Full Time program and an aspiring technology professional pursuing an Associate of Science degree at Daytona State College. He is also a competitive soccer goalkeeper active in national‑level leagues.