Whatever system you have in place and whatever accolades you have earned, nothing could’ve prepared me for how amazing a teacher you truly were throughout AP Macro/Micro. I didn’t get to learn from you in the finance magnet, but please know that even one year with you was enough to truly understand why you’re so decorated and celebrated! Thank you for truly and honestly caring for all of your students, for enabling each and every one of us for success, and for teaching us the importance of integrity to ourselves and to our work. Keep changing lives Mr. Daniel! D=P=MR=AR

Matthew – c/o 2017 

This (i.e. – her AP Macro & Micro Exam Scores) made me so happy I screamed!Thank you so much for everything you have done for me the past four years. It was an experience I would never trade for anything. Without you pushing me to do better each and every day, I would not be where I am now.I remember walking in the first day of freshman year and looking at the white board, and you had written “Calm seas never made a skillful sailor.” That saying has stuck with me since day one and when things got tough or I wanted to give up, I would think back to that. I could never thank you enough. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity. Best Regards,

Chloe – c/o 2017

I am currently in my last semester as a accounting and finance major at UCF. I am ETERNALLY grateful for all that you taught us throughout high school. I cannot stress that enough. I remember in freshman year how we learned about accounting and all the different financial statements and T-Accounts. That class that you taught us freshman year was way more in-depth then some of the accounting courses I have taken at UCF. I know for a fact that because of what you taught us I have been able to get as far as I have now. I also wanted to thank you for teaching us to properly do a presentation. I know in High school I was extremely shy and had a problem looking at individuals in their eyes but I have improved greatly. I am no longer afraid to do presentations in front of others and actually look forward to them now. I think the VITA experience we did in our Junior year of High school was a great experience as well. When I applied for an internship at Lockheed I listed that as part of my tax experience and they were very impressed. All in all I regret not emailing you earlier and thanking you for all the amazing work that you put into us. I am grateful for every part of it.  

Felipe – c/o 2013 

I am still on the actuarial career path, and I passed the FM exam over summer, which I’m sure you know is a lot time value of money and derivative problems. I am so fortunate I was introduced to these concepts at such an early age compared to my peers since these exams are not particularly easy. Now that I have graduated, I can officially say that I have learned more about finance from the magnet program than from the finance major -so thank you for all that you do!

Hannah – c/o 2013

I hope all is well this year with all the classes within the academy of Finance. I am emailing just say thank you for all that you did for me in my four years in the program. Its kind of funny that I am sending this because I remember sitting in your class three years ago listening to one of these kind of emails some former student sent to you thinking I would never feel that way about the program. But now I am so thankful that I stuck it out and completed the program because I am already starting to feel the effects of it up here in college. I am taking a business calculus class this semester and the entire class is done on Microsoft Excel. It is kind of funny because up to this point within the class I can usually complete the lesson and my homework in class before the teacher is done teaching it. It is the exact stuff that we learned about freshman year. The equations, making graphs, learning about what revenue, profit, break even points, marginal profit, and doing future and present value problems are. All of my classmates are acting like its a foreign language and I already know it, which is pretty nice. We just got our first test back and I got a 95. It really is a blessing to already know what everything in Excel is. In fact some of my teammates are in the class with me and they usually come to me to ask questions.

Nathan – c/o 2016  

A few weeks ago I was in Orlando for a dental conference and there was a lunch session that was hosted by a financial planning firm. The session was really helpful because the speaker discussed the pros and cons of paying off debt as quickly as possible or if it was financially better to pay the minimum payment for 2 years and save the money that would have been used for the debt payment to use as capital to buy-in to a firm. He strongly recommended the latter and told us that saving the money early on and buying-in affords us the opportunity to make more money quicker because we would be part owner of the practice. What a great session! One of my colleagues asked me, how could you possibly save up 70k a year in order to buy in to a practice (this was the amount the speaker recommended)? Thanks to you, I was able to break out my budgeting cap (taxes included) and outline yearly income, minus taxes (and I explained to him how taxes worked), and then minus savings for retirement, money for housing, savings for capital for buy-in etc. and then “X” is how much you make a month take home. He was absolutely astonished! Not only by the tax information – he had no idea how the tax bracket system worked – but how you work the budgeting for housing cars etc after that. He made the mistake of thinking “oh you’re in the X% bracket so all of your money is taxed that way” and boy did I show him the light. He was floored and was extremely happy to have me show him all of this and he wished that he knew this information.  

Sam – c/o 2010 – Harvard Dental School 

Being an NAF student means taking part in a specialized, meaningful academic environment on a daily basis. In an educational culture that seems to be putting more and more emphasis on standardization and less emphasis on individualism in the classroom, it’s encouraging to me to have the opportunity to walk into my Finance class where learning exceeds state mandated goals and discussions push me and my peers to heights that would be unattainable in a conventional classroom setting. NAF opens doors for students like me to pursue what interests us. While there’s value to the problem solving skills I develop in other classes on campus, the material covered in my NAF class have tangible applications to what will soon be me career. NAF has challenged me and prepared me for an impactful career in the world of Finance.

Wes – c/o 2015

Being a NAF Student means putting myself in a setting that challenges me to grow as a student and as a person. The past four years in the Academy of Finance have exceeded my expectations. They have been exciting, entertaining and educational. The curriculum has shaped me into an eager learner and an informed citizen. NAF has provided me with once-in-a-life-time opportunities, such as the chance to complete an internship, that set me apart from others my age. By teaching material that is applicable to the real world financial situations I will one day face and requiring me to use the skills I’ve developed in class, outside of the classroom, the NAF has placed me on the right track to success. Today, as a four-year member of a NAF program, I am walking into the world prepared for a lifetime of ambition, hard work, and success.

Dora – c/o 2015

College is amazing, and full of opportunities. I am already the parliamentarian of the Senate here at Florida State. My only regret coming in is not being a Finance kid. The skills they have would make my Economic/Business Administration degree ridiculously easy. You teach all of my required courses and you seem to do it better than the professors here. Also having the internship under my belt would be a great experience as I am currently applying to become an Intern at the Governors office here in Tallahassee. 

I want to give a word of advice to your current Economics students, Work hard. Passing the economics exams saved me $1,305.80 which is much more than many scholarships you can get. Taking Mr. Daniel’s class is decidedly worth the opportunity cost.

McKenna – c/o 2015 

This summer, as a requirement for my Econ class, I read Muhammad Yunus’ A World without Poverty: Capitalism and the Future of Social Business. Even though it was “required reading”, I loved almost everything about it. Reading Yunus’ book made me realize that I don’t just want to work to make a living for myself because I know that it won’t make me truly happy. I now know that I need to help people. Not want. Need. I cannot imagine living a life without having a positive impact on someone and leaving the world a better place. 

I guess what I am trying to say is: thank you for everything you have done for me and for each and everyone of your students. You have made such a difference in my life and you are someone I will never forget. You really have changed and helped me. It’s hard to believe I will never again be a student in room 844 listening to you teach subjects that I have grown to love. Thank you for the part you played in my life and in my decision to come to Elon. Although my first day as barely finished, I realize how far I’ve come and know that I truly do bELONg here. 

Dora – c/o 2015

I hope you had a good first semester and enjoyed your time in New York! It’s still hard to swallow that my first semester of college is already over, pretty unbelievable. I’ve done a lot of time thinking over Christmas Break and have decided to officially become an Economics major with hopes of entering Corporate America upon obtaining my MBA. (That’s a broad goal I know but it’s a start). I’m also sure you hear this a lot but I have a lot of friends that took micro last semester and said it was the hardest course they’ve ever taken. I randomly decided to watch part of a lecture to see how it was taught and no wonder they think it was difficult. No discussion, no collaboration, no understanding, but just a monotone professor blabbering at a lecture hall with 500 freshmen. It really made me appreciate the opportunities I was blessed with by being a part of AOF. Thank you for all that you have done for my class the past four years. It has taught me so many important life lessons and has set me up for success in college, and for that I am forever grateful. Best to you and hope you have a great second semester. 

Ron – c/o 2014

I’m just starting the fifth week of my classes. As I write this, I am doing in depth studying of intermediate macroeconomics (the IS-LM Model right now). Firstly, to your current Economics students, AP Macro and Micro were the closest things to a real college course that I had my entire career at BHS. In my Macro class this semester, I have 15 quizzes with only 12 counting for 100% of my grade. It is reminiscent of our macro semester last year. I’m out pacing sophomores, juniors, and seniors at the 4th best Engineering school in America. Advice to your seniors would have to be, “Get used to it.”

Sincerely,

Israel​ – c/o 2014

I hope the start to another year is going well at Boone and you with it. Zac and I are currently sitting in a Problem Solving with Office class and we are practically in physical pain because we have a TA who is struggling to explain auto sum to the class. By the way, this is the third week of class. I’m so glad that I basically took this class so that Zac and I can quietly do the homework in the back of the class and complete the online homework.

I would also like to thank you again for those awesome AP scores. My roommate is currently taking microeconomics online and is practically paying me with Krispy Kreme doughnuts to help him with every assignment (fighting freshman fifteen is going to be a challenge). Although I do miss asking completely out of the box economics questions, I have to admit that I am glad I am not having a similar experience to my roommate.

Thank you again for all the time you have invested into that program. I’m sure this won’t be the last time that I am thankful for time in room 844.

Your Bored Student,

TJ – c/o 2014

P.S. Yay! He moved on to payment functions while I was typing this!

I wanted to reach out and tell you that I am extremely grateful for having been your student, and for giving me an opportunity that has already proven to be beneficial for my future. After taking my first accounting class this past Monday, I spoke to my professor about volunteering at Stetson’s VITA tax site and explained to her that I was already certified my junior year of high school. This lead to further conversation about the academy of finance at Boone and after learning what your curriculum includes, she asked me if I could give her your contact information. She said that the business school at Stetson is trying to work with high schools in order to allow incoming students to be exempt of more classes, and that working with you could potentially start this program. I just wanted to hear from you if it was ok that I give her your contact information, as well as giving you a heads up so you know what to expect. She also wants to recommend me to the VITA site coordinator to have me train the new volunteers since I have already been certified and completed tax returns, and that is all thanks to you. 

Danny – c/o 2014

I just finished my first day of my spring semester and thought I should see how things are going over at BHS and let you know how things are going for me at UCF. I walked into orientation as a second year student thanks to all the AP classes I took during high school. As a finance major, I registered to take world religions (a course for my general education program), intro. to fundamentals of technical presentations (a speech class for my general education program), financial accounting and computer fundamentals of business (requirements of all college of business administration majors).

World religions turned out to be very easy, only 4 exams in the whole year and no homework.

The speech class was literally us planning two presentations to follow the examples they posted online. Thanks to all the presentations I did during my time in the finance program, getting up in front of the class was much easier.

Financial accounting was like being in the freshman accounting class all over again, except this time I already knew the material. We went through everything I had already learned with you and it was simply a review.

Computer fundamentals of business was made up of a lecture with about networks, software, and other material I really didn’t care for; and a lab on Microsoft Office 2013. Again, I knew almost all of the lab material thanks to the freshman IT class.

I ended up finishing the semester with a 3.9 GPA.

Now for my spring semester I’m finishing up the requirements I need to complete so that I can be admitted into the college of business administration in the fall. I am taking managerial accounting, quantitative business tools 1, general psychology, and the human species.

After just 1 semester of college, my gratitude for you and your teaching style has already increased. No matter what field your students decide to take in college, your teaching method sets us up for success. To this day, I still do my notes in different colors, after you suggested that we do that. I wish the AOF students the best of luck and want to remind them that everything you, as our teacher, do is to better prepare us for what lies ahead.

With all of that said, thank you, for always pushing me & believing in my potential.

Melanie – UCF – c/o 2014 

Its been a while and I’m sitting in my business finance class and I’m wondering how things are going with you and the AOF. I have to admit, in high school I really couldn’t see the benefits that the finance magnet was providing me but now they are clear. There isn’t one thing that we have done in this class, or my financial accounting class last semester, that you haven’t already taught me, albeit I may have needed a refresher on a couple of things, but nothing was new material (and already knowing the material means I haven’t had to buy any books). Thanks to you I’ve been 100% prepared for college! I see my peers struggling with TMV, calculating bond values, calculating beta, etc. and its a good feeling to know that I’ve already done this once before and it comes second nature to me at this point. And not only has the AOF helped me academically, it has jump started my professional career as well. My junior internship at Universal has made me grow as a professional in many ways, from working in unfavorable groups, to helping new interns learn the ropes in an office setting, the opportunities provided for me via the AOF have been invaluable. Currently, I’m seeking an opportunity to intern at Verizon this summer and I know that I am more than qualified for this position and I was wondering if by any chance I could put you as a reference?Tell all your students to keep working hard and to trust in your methods because they really do work and they pay off. I should probably get back to listening to my lecture since we are making an amortization schedule now. Looking forward to a reply!

Giusseppe – c/o 2013

I don’t know if you remember me but I took your AP macro and microeconomics class back in 2012. I remember you telling the class that when we go to college we will one day come across a professor that changes our life. Well, I happened to come across that person sooner than most, because that person was you. Before taking your class I was set on going to college to major in biology or some other science. However, your class was by far my favorite and the most life changing. I know that seems silly because it’s just a high school class but because of you I am now graduating a year early from NYU with a degree in economics. That is something that might never have happened had I never taken your class. However, it wasn’t only the subject that I enjoyed but the way you taught it. You not only have a passion for teaching but you also do everything in your power to make sure each one of your students is living up to their full potential. I just want to say thank you for that and let you know that what your doing does matter and changes peoples lives. So thank you:) 

Victoria – c/o 2012

I’m writing you to encourage you to inform your students who will be attending UF about the MSF program. The program is a combined degree program that you graduate in 4 years with a bachelors and masters. Students from the Finance magnet (or your econ class) would be a perfect fit. They will be ahead in terms of coursework (if they pass the AP exams which they should) and will come into college with more financial knowledge than 99% of other students. The program specifically tailors students for IB, S&T, Asset Management and recently consulting. Any of your students going to UF interested in any of these fields should look into the program when they arrive on campus.

If you want any further information below is the link to the home site and to the student placements so students can see the jobs it offers.

http://warrington.ufl.edu/graduate/academics/msf/

http://warrington.ufl.edu/graduate/academics/msf/resumes.asp

Hope all is well and best of luck to your students

Dillon – c/o 2012 

I’ll conclude this rant with a funny story about Tyler and I that I vividly remember… When we were freshman after a particularly tough day in accounting, we both angrily spoke to each other about how pointless all of this was, and how we should have just done CJ or Law. We called your stories about past students grandstanding, and thought you had an inflated view of what the AOF meant to people. Last summer, after Tyler moved to UF for his Masters in Tax, we did some catching up. One of our first conversations was about what big idiots we were to assume the AOF would not do us any good. We laughed back and forth about how simple undergrad had been for both of us compared to our friends, and at how our peers would sweat bullets about presentations while we just relaxed waiting our turn. You get the idea…. Two of your biggest bonehead students ever had come full circle, and realized how big of an impact you had on our lives.

All that being said, thank you for everything you have done in my life. You will never realize the full entirety of your influence on me.

Davis – c/o 2010 

l of the great memories that we had in your classes. The finance program still has a big impact on me—for one, I’m one of the only attorneys in our office who understands how to use Microsoft Excel… I’ve been fortunate. Somehow despite not having a lawyer in my family to help me navigate the ropes, I was able to have my pick of top law schools and then join one of the biggest firms in the country. I’ve been very blessed! Of course, it means that I work 24/7, but I know that eventually this experience will help me move back into the business/finance world or into government. Who knows, one day I might be able to bring everything full circle and work in international business for Disney! The eighth grade version of me would be really pleased to see how everything has worked out. 

David – c/o 2006