SCHOLARS PROGRAM ’00 | BLAIR ACADEMY ’04 | THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL ’08

Prior to my participation in SEEDS, I attended my local public schools. The educational experience there was fairly superficial and did not push the boundaries of critical thought.

I learned about SEEDS through an information session offered during my 7th-grade science class. I distinctly remember that our regular teacher was out that week and we had a substitute teacher instead. The SEEDS representative shared information about a program called SEEDS that would help motivated, high-achieving students, gain admission into competitive independent schools. I always wonder if that information session would have happened had it not been for the fortuitous circumstances.

After the information session, I spoke with my family and decided to apply to SEEDS. The opportunity to gain a world-class education was a really compelling vision for both my family and me. I also wanted to attend an independent school because the thought of an academically rigorous environment that would push me to learn and develop intellectually beyond what I was accustomed to really excited me.

After completing SEEDS, I attended Blair Academy. Blair was all that I could have hoped for and more. While the academic rigor was there as expected, I was surprised to find the love and embrace of the Blair community as well. This support was critical to my success at Blair and in my development as a whole being.

Had it not been for the access SEEDS provided me, my entire life trajectory and arc would be completely different. I’m sure that I would have been less ambitious with likely a lower peak to the arc. Being a part of SEEDS taught me that so many of us are inherently talented and capable, and being in the right environment to grow, learn and develop those talents and capabilities is critically important.

For those students who now follow in my footsteps, I want to share that SEEDS will be transformative to their lives. They should embrace the opportunity wholeheartedly and amazing things will happen!