Parent and Student Testimonials

Life before CTRA: 

"Before joining Connecticut River Academy, I was always bored in class, and I would finish my work quickly without being challenged. Before becoming a CTRA scholar, every day at school felt the same, and I didn't feel like I was learning or reaching my potential. I also struggled to make friends and was often bullied by my peers for my academic ability and interest in animals and wildlife. When the bullying escalated, I knew I had to do something different with my life— to get out of my hometown and expand my horizons." 

Life at CTRA:

"High school is such an important time to discover who you are, and CTRA made me more confident. As a scholar, I was on the volleyball team and participated in musical theatre for all four years. I was also a high achiever academically and was involved in student government and the National Honor Society. Through the high school's early college model and Capstone project, I earned free college credits and got to mentor under a local veterinarian — I even scrubbed in on surgeries! 

At CTRA, I was not only academically challenged, but also had my ideals challenged. The school’s diversity was the most significant impact on my life. Through learning about social justice and interacting with peers from backgrounds different than my own, my education has shaped how I think and interact with the world around me today."

Life after CTRA:

"I am currently a student attending Tufts University as a biology major in the pre-veterinary science track. I use many of the skills and thought processes that CTRA instilled upon me throughout my college life. I always try to approach problems from multiple perspectives and seek out diverse friendships and relationships. I also use my confidence and leadership abilities to co-captain the Tufts Cheerleading team."

Life before CTRA: 

“I grew up in Hartford and bounced around between there and New Britain. I went to elementary and middle school with a predominantly Hispanic/Latino student population. Teachers weren’t exactly warm, the infrastructure was crumbling, and I was told that I wouldn't make it past high school by many people. No one in my family had finished high school or gone to university, but in looking for high schools, my mother was determined to find the best opportunity for me, and she did with CTRA.”

Life at CTRA: 

“CTRA was a safe haven for me, and that feeling of belonging, of a tightknit family, was always present. The safety and security I felt there was amazing, and the teachers encouraged me to push myself and achieve my goals. Most of all, access to opportunity was immeasurable in changing my life.

I was fortunate to go onboard the historic Half Moon ship that operated on the Connecticut River. Goodwin College Beacon Magazine published my poems, and I attended a Harvard University Summer School program. I even took seven transferable Goodwin College classes during my time in high school. At CTRA, I felt loved, listened to, and accepted. I felt heard, but most of all, I felt prepared.”

Life after CTRA: 

“With the strength that CTRA gave me, I went off to UCONN, where I earned my Bachelor’s in Special Education and a Minor in English, and then my Master’s in Educational Psychology with a certificate of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

While attending UCONN, I studied abroad in South Africa and was involved with many campus activities and organizations on UCONN’s campus. I was a mentor for a performance poetry class, program director for Campus Big Buddies, and a resident assistant and peer advisor for several UCONN first-generation students.

I am currently teaching English in Japan.

I had a lot of positive and transformative moments at CTRA. If I could bottle that feeling and carry it with me to every space I inhabit, I would live a very fulfilled life. I am forever grateful.”

Life before CTRA: 

“I attended multiple magnet school open houses and was drawn to CTRA after hearing about the chance to take college classes for free while still in high school. The school’s community culture also appealed to me. When I went to visit, I noticed that the school’s glass building was bright, and so were the personalities inside. Everyone seemed to know each other, and in comparison, to other schools, the difference at CTRA was day and night.” 

Life at CTRA:

“CTRA gave me the chance to build community with my classmates and give back to my hometown. While a scholar, I was a student worker for the music program — helping with acapella groups and chorus concerts. I also assisted with art classes, the Trash in Fashion show and volunteered for a local blood drive and a Connecticut River cleanup near campus.

While a scholar, I also took 11 college classes at Goodwin tuition-free. The opportunity to participate in the early college model changed my perspective on my future. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life when I was in high school, but because I was able to take classes at Goodwin, I found out what I liked, what I didn’t like, and the experience set me ahead on a career path I enjoy.”

Life after CTRA:

“After I graduated CTRA, I applied and ultimately enrolled in Goodwin University’s Business Administration program. Because I was a CTRA scholar, I was awarded a scholarship that took 50% off my tuition at Goodwin. I was also the recipient of a Business Administration scholarship which took an additional 30% off — totaling an 80% savings on my education.* My parents loved it!

CTRA changed my life for the better and attending Goodwin showed me what I value. During my Capstone project for my undergraduate degree, I got the chance to create a strategic plan for Riverside Magnet School at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience taught me that community is valuable. I think it’s important for students to have small class sizes and innovative curricula with professors that care about you.

After high school, I earned my degree in five semesters. I graduated from Goodwin with my Bachelor’s in Business Administration in just two years. Now, I am an Instructor for Riverside Magnet School and I am looking forward to providing my students that same sense of community inside my classroom."

*Grants and scholarships are subject to change.