All Star Spotlight: Michael Montenegro

Michael Montenegro
SEEDS ’14 | Dwight-Englewood School ’18

Michael recently submitted his Early Decision application to the University of Pennsylvania, where he hopes to major in business with a concentration in Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School of Business. After completing his undergraduate degree, he plans to apply to law school and become a corporate lawyer. For the past four years, Michael has been a regular volunteer at SEEDS’ Scholars Academy Saturdays at the Dwight-Englewood site, as well as at special events like SEEDS’ Independent School Fair and financial aid workshops.

Why have you stayed so connected to SEEDS over the past four years?
SEEDS has given me so many amazing opportunities, including finding me my first job. I feel like helping SEEDS give these opportunities to new Scholars is the best way to pay SEEDS back for everything it has done for me. Even though I am leaving for college next year, I will continue trying to help in any way possible. 

Tell me about your time so far at Dwight-Englewood School. How did SEEDS prepare you for Dwight?
My past four years at Dwight-Englewood have been an amazing experience that I would not change. Dwight has opened me up to many new activities that I never saw myself doing. During my sophomore year, I auditioned for the school musical (The Addams Family), and I was cast in a lead role. From then on, I have been in every musical production at Dwight, realizing that I was very passionate about musical theater. I am also the president of Dwight’s A Capella Club, Dwight Mix, which was the first club I ever joined my freshman year. Currently, I am taking two AP math classes (Calculus and Statistics), along with courses in honors Constitutional Law, French 4 honors, English, Forensics and Engineering, and Orchestra, which I joined to continue playing the violin.

SEEDS did an amazing job getting me ready for Dwight. I was incredibly prepared for my freshman year because I had seen the material during SEEDS’ Saturday classes. In addition, the Human Behavior course that SEEDS offers gave me insight as to what I would experience at Dwight. I knew I would be around students that came from a much higher socioeconomic background, and I would be in an environment where I clearly stood out from most of my peers because of the color of my skin. Going into Dwight, I knew that I might face challenges based on these differences, but SEEDS made me feel confident and comfortable in my new environment.

What was the biggest lesson that you learned with SEEDS?
SEEDS taught me that no matter where I go, I will always have a large network of people who I know will support me and help guide me in the future. Yes, SEEDS taught me algebra, chemistry, and vocabulary, but, most importantly, SEEDS taught me that I will never be alone.

What does SEEDS mean to you?
To me, SEEDS is family. It’s not a program that we graduate from and then leave. SEEDS is a support group for the future and a resource that alumni can always count on.

What advice do you share with current Scholars about your SEEDS experience?
The first thing I told the current Scholars was, ‘This isn’t a program that will do your work for you. You’re here to work as hard as you possibly can, like my peers and I did before you. I will not cut you any slack, because I’m here to help you all get into your schools, just like other alumni helped me.’ The next Saturday, I went to class and I saw the Scholars took what I said to heart. I have told them that the process is difficult, and that I went through it too – with a few tears along the way. They can see that I really connect with them, which is one the best ways to help the Scholars through the process.