Have you ever wondered what life looked like for famous athletes like Michael Phelps, Patrick Mahomes, or Serena Williams before they hit the world stage? As a parent of a young competitive athlete, you might question how your child will successfully balance training, competitions, academics, friends and outside interests. Although we don’t have all of the answers, we asked Laurel Springs’ 2019 Graduate and Competitive Tennis Athlete, Valentin Le Goupil-Maier, to help us fill in some of the blanks.

Valentin is a French-American who spent high school training at a tennis academy in Madrid, Spain while attending Laurel Springs School full time as an international student. He went on to compete collegiately at the prestigious Adelphi University in New York. Today, his focus is on his profession as a private equity analyst; and although he did not choose to play professionally, his high school experience as a competitive athlete gives parents and students a much better understanding of what it really looks like to successfully balance it all.

How Attending Private School Online Made a Difference

Online school isn’t for everyone, but for those with outside passions that demand significant time and energy, it can be a game changer.

“If it weren’t for the flexibility and diverse options at Laurel Springs, I wouldn’t have been able to prioritize my tennis the way that I did,” he shared. “I was in Madrid, Spain throughout high school, so the fact that I could interact and stay connected with my teachers was super helpful. They were most always responsive and ready to help, even though I was overseas.”

Attend a Virtual Open House to learn about our support systems for athletes

Valentin’s typical day started around 6:30 am, slowed down after his final recovery session finished at 5:00 pm, and ended once he tied up loose ends with assignments and felt prepared for the following day. When asked about his schedule in more detail, he gave us a full breakdown:

Schedule:
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM: Wake up, eat breakfast, get ready
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Tennis practice
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Break (1-2 hours) for assignments and studying
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Additional school work
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Fitness/weight-lifting session
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Recovery
5:00 PM – BEDTIME: Dinner, working ahead and resetting for the next day

For someone like Valentin, online school was a must. “It permitted me to pursue tennis fully while still getting a high quality education that prepared me for college,” he said. It wasn’t just the flexibility that he loved, though. “Laurel Springs really taught me to be self-driven. I had to complete work on my own time. It was very different from traditional school. Because of this, I was able to transition to college and the digital world with ease.”

Becoming an Financial Analyst and Post-Graduation Success

After graduating from Adelphi University in 2023 with his finance degree, Valentin joined a privately-held investment firm called Bravia Capital in Midtown New York.

“As you can imagine, my days during college and Laurel Springs were much more similar versus what I’m doing today,” Valentin shared lightheartedly. His days still start around 6:30 am, where he tries to get in some type of movement before heading to work, and then he’s on task until 7:30 pm at the earliest. “Once I’m home, I go to the gym, eat dinner, and reset for the next day.”

Valentin still values his routine and hasn’t put fitness on the back burner by any means. However, his interests extend far beyond his profession and love for movement. “I love traveling, trying new foods, languages and learning new cultures,” he mentioned. “I always wanted to live back in NYC during my 20’s. I’m so glad I get to live that out!”

With hopes to bring tennis back into his schedule more consistently, Valentin reflects fondly on the online private school community that helped get him to where he is today. “I continue to appreciate the community that Laurel Springs has built, even though me and my other classmates are all over the world,” he shared. “We all still interact and stay connected, even after having graduated.”

If you’re a fellow Laurel Springs Alum, join Valentin on the LSS Alumni Connect network!

Is online private school right for you?

To discover your answer to the question above, it’s important to first consider this: “Does your student have access to the personalized support and academic options they need to reach their full potential inside and outside of the classroom?” Perhaps this question feels loaded, but when you sit down as a family and discuss this honestly, you’ll realize whether or not a change needs to be made.

If you have a gut feeling that virtual school could be a game changer for your child, join us for a Virtual Open House. These sessions are pressure-free, interactive, and packed with opportunities to get your questions answered. Plus, you’ll meet our Head of School, faculty, and Student Ambassadors, too! Attend our upcoming session and we’ll waive your $300 registration fee at time of enrollment. Sign up here!

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