SCHOLARS PROGRAM ’96 | THE PINGRY SCHOOL ’00 | DUKE UNIVERSITY ’04 | UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY OF NJ ’08

Prior to my time in SEEDS, I attended a suburban elementary and middle school where I didn’t feel challenged. While I got along with many of the students in the school, the student body didn’t value academic achievement.

I knew I was capable of more, and so did my family. I had a desire to attend private school, specifically The Pingry School because I desired a higher level and quality of education. We had family friends who attended Pingry and I had heard about the various experiences, both academic and extra-curricular, that they had, and I wanted that for myself.

Knowing how much it meant to me to be able to attend a private school, more specifically Pingry, my father was relentless in inquiring about opportunities that may exist to help me obtain a scholarship. After some research, he learned about SEEDS, and I was soon in the program.

Through SEEDS, I learned that status and pedigree don’t necessarily matter. If you can apply yourself, work hard, and be personable and genuine with others, you have a good chance of succeeding.

After completing and graduating from SEEDS, I attended The Pingry School. There, I was challenged more and made to think critically, which was not the case when I attended public school. It was also refreshing to be in an atmosphere where academics were truly a priority.

While I believe that it’s very likely I would have ended up in the same place as I am now professionally, I would not have formed as strong relationships with friends had it not been for SEEDS. Without SEEDS, I wouldn’t have had the realization that my family’s financial status was the opposite of a hindrance. Rather, it was a powerful motivator driving my success. 

I am just one SEEDS story. There were many before me and even more after me. To all those who now follow in my footsteps, I want to say this: Work as hard in SEEDS, if not harder, than your own local school. Don’t give up when the academics get hard. Don’t be discouraged when you see what your classmates in independent schools have that you may not. Use SEEDS and independent school resources to explore professions and find one you love. Learn to be smart about your own finances early on. Use your early years in employment to build a strong financial foundation for yourself so you can be a pillar for yourself and the family that gave you such an amazing opportunity in SEEDS in the first place and support them in the future as they did you.