How Friends Academy Prepared Me for College & Beyond: Alumni Stories

Beyond preparing for college, a private high school education helps students cultivate healthy independence, character, and curiosity that lasts a lifetime. At Friends Academy in Long Island, NY, academic excellence is paired with Quaker principles, guiding students to learn with purpose and achieve greatness without sacrificing goodness.

As you read on, you will hear from alumni who carry the lessons and relationships they formed at Friends Academy into every stage of life.

Key Takeaways

• A holistic private high school education goes beyond just college preparation to foster students’ social and emotional growth. 
• Friends Academy combines academic rigor with Quaker values, such as integrity, community, and service, to help students lead with both intellect and heart. 
• Accomplished alumni credit Friends Academy for shaping their leadership skills, ethics, and resilience. 

The Lasting Value of a Private High School Education

Choosing a private high school is about more than academics—it’s about placing your child in a community that will know them, support them, and help them grow with purpose into their college years and in all the years that follow.  

When comparing public vs. private high schools, what often matters most isn’t just resources, but how deeply students are known and supported. At Friends Academy, parents and caregivers partner closely with educators to provide a coordinated support system that nurtures each child’s growth academically, socially, and emotionally—a level of collaboration less common in boarding school settings. This day-school model also helps students develop independence while remaining connected to a stable home and community environment.    

If you’re exploring private high schools for your child, there's no substitute for hearing from graduates themselves. Their stories below will give you a clearer picture of how this kind of education shapes not just academic paths, but lives lived with purpose.  

Friends Academy: A Legacy of Purpose-Driven Education

At Friends Academy, our approach to education is rooted in Quaker values—simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equity, stewardship, and service—and integrates academic rigor with reflection and purpose. In small classes, students are known and supported, which gives them the space to explore real-world questions and discover ethical solutions.  

This holistic approach for the mind, body, and spirit cements Friends Academy’s reputation as a leading private high school in New York. With challenging academics, mentorship, and service experiences that connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them, students discover a deep sense of belonging and responsibility. Graduates leave well-prepared not just for college, but to live with purpose and lead with integrity.   

Q&A: Finding Success After Private School with Friends Alumni

Hear from four of our accomplished alumni who were once in your child’s shoes as they reflect on how their education at Friends Academy continues to shape their work, life, and leadership long after they’ve graduated. Their diverse experiences speak to what’s possible when a private high school combines high expectations with enduring values. 

Marianna Cuomo Maier ‘15
Founder
Grata Wellness

Rashid Walker ‘87, P’20, ‘24
Founder and CEO
First Street Companies

Carlos Vanegas ‘98
Senior Geophysical Software Developer
TGS

Eric Goodman MD ‘02
Musculoskeletal Radiologist 
Northwell Health

How have Friends Academy’s values and community shaped the way you approach your work and life today?

Marianna Cuomo Maier ‘15: So many of FA’s values continue to shape my work today. It taught me how to think critically, work hard, and approach challenges with curiosity and integrity. The rigor, academic excellence, and collaborative environment, from connecting with teachers to developing lifelong friendships, prepared me well for Yale and beyond. It’s a place that truly shapes the whole person, preparing students to lead with both intellect and heart.

How did Friends Academy influence the way you interact with others and navigate different perspectives?

Rashid Walker ‘87, P’20, ‘24: Friends Academy had a huge effect on my life. Among the many reasons I appreciate Friends is the way the school educates the whole person, shapes who you are to be kind, and encourages you to come to a consensus. There shouldn’t be just one perspective—we can compromise.

Were there specific experiences at Friends Academy that pushed you academically or helped define your career path?

Carlos Vanegas ‘98: The curriculum at Friends set me on my path. There was a high expectation to push yourself, and to ask, ‘What’s the hardest thing I can do?

How have the principles of a Quaker education, such as equality, integrity, and community, influenced the way you live or work today?

Eric Goodman MD ‘02: The point of a Quaker education is that it focuses on equality, truth, integrity, peace, and community. Community stresses that we must live with all of those around us, not just those we want to live with. It is only when you meet someone as an equal that you can then open your heart and mind. Not only must we work to make the world a better place, but we must work toward a world where everyone recognizes that equality. These values have powered my own life, and I hope they will do the same for your children.

Discover the Difference at Friends Academy

As the #1 ranked K-12 private school and college prep school in Nassau County, Friends Academy’s academic rigor and values-driven community provide students with the foundation they need to excel in school, their future careers, and life. 

If you’d like to see what sets Friends Academy’s Quaker education apart from other private high schools in Long Island, New York, we invite you to complete our inquiry form or schedule a personal campus tour. We’d love to hear from you!