SEEDS SCHOLARS PROGRAM ’04 | WESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY ’08 | NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ’12

“Prior to SEEDS, I was a student at P.S. #16, located in a beautiful neighborhood of Jersey City called Paulus Hook –  incredible luck of the draw. My teachers were experienced, and the class size was smaller relative to other Jersey City public schools, which was important for me since I had been an English-as-a-second-language student earlier on.

SEEDS came into my life when my guidance counselor handed me a brochure about SEEDS at lunchtime and told me to apply. Frankly, I didn’t appreciate the opportunity in front of me at the time but am just glad that I took the time to complete the application.

When I applied to SEEDS in 2003, there wasn’t an easy way for me to do a lot of research on the organization. What I understood about the program at the time was very limited – I would have the opportunity to take more advanced and challenging classes that would improve my chances of getting into St. Peter’s Prep, McNair, or County Prep (all great schools in Jersey City). That was enough for me that’s all I thought about when I applied.

Being a part of SEEDS taught me a lot of important lessons, but the one that I carry with me every day is a funny story. During Phase I, on the first half report card, I got a comment from one of my teachers that simply said: “Ahmad is a good student, but he can be a negative influence on his peers.” That one line literally scared me straight as I badly wanted to progress to Phase 2/3. I am so glad that the teacher called me out for my antics on our bus rides.

The idea of attending an independent school became my highest priority very quickly as I progressed through Phase I, primarily due to interactions with peers and teachers in which I learned about the wealth of academic, athletic, and social opportunities at independent schools. As I previously mentioned, I got a kick in the behind and made it my goal to advance to Phase 2 and 3 to give myself a shot. From there, I continued to learn more about independent schools, how valuable the alumni networks are, and my desire to attend one continued to grow.

Upon my graduation from SEEDS, I attended Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. Going from a middle school that had been a 10-minute walk from my home to a boarding school in a completely different state was such a huge difference from what I had previously experienced. But the biggest change was the motivation level of my peers. I went from coasting to a very challenging academic environment, but I absolutely needed that in order to get to where I am today.

Without SEEDS, my life would be way less fulfilling – I attribute a lot of milestones to my participation in SEEDS and being a part of the SEEDS family. Most importantly, the lifelong friendships that I have from my time in the program wouldn’t be possible without SEEDS.

If I could advise students who now follow in my footsteps, I would tell them that SEEDS is demanding and requires a lot of sacrifices, but it’s absolutely worth it and it changed my life for the better. Value your relationships with peers, teachers, and the staff, and invest in them because they are definitely investing in you.”