Each year, SEED students participate in various experiential learning and extracurricular programs to enhance their learning experiences. From international travel to SAT prep camp, our scholars benefit from a range of activities outside of the classroom to build their professional skills and set them apart from their peers in the college application process.
We recently spoke with two SEED graduates, London Hart (SEED DC ’19) and Brianna Mercer (SEED MD ’19) who made the most of the extracurricular programs available at SEED. London is a math whiz who took dual enrollment courses at the University of the District of Columbia, and Brianna is a mental health advocate who interned at the Black Mental Health Alliance. These experiences, combine with the college prep academics and student life programming they received as SEED students, help to ease their transition to college. Read more about how these experiences impacted their educational journeys.
What college are you attending now and what is your major?
I am a sophomore at Emory University majoring in applied mathematics on a pre-med track.
What classes were you enrolled in at the University of the District of Columbia?
I was enrolled in an English and a math course at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
How did your dual enrollment classes prepare you for your college courses?
Dual enrollment classes prepared me for the classroom dynamic in college. Professors aren’t as hands on as high school teachers, since they can have hundreds of students at a time and assume that you will take charge of your own learning. It also taught me how to effectively advocate for myself, which is a great life skill. If you don’t seek help from professors or resources on campus, the only person you’re hurting is yourself.
Why is it important for SEED to offer dual enrollment to their students?
It’s important for SEED to offer dual enrollment classes since it’s a college preparatory school and should do everything within its power to ensure that students are prepared for the transition to college. The ability to take college classes as a high school student is a privilege and an experience that many students do not get. It is also a great way to gauge students who may be excelling academically in the traditional classroom, since the only way for them to grow and hone their skills is to consistently be challenged.
Is there anything else you want to add?
A few other students along with myself were the first group of SEED DC students to take dual enrollment classes off campus, which was exciting. I am interested to see where SEED goes in terms of offering dual enrollment courses for students, and the partnerships that they create with universities in the DMV area. While we started at UDC it would be great if students are eventually able to take classes at Howard, Georgetown, or American University. While getting credits for college is great, the experience of taking college classes in high school is unmatched and looks great as an extracurricular.
What college are you attending now and what is your major?
I am a sophomore at Frostburg State University majoring in social work.
Describe your internship roles and responsibilities at the Black Mental Health Alliance.
I attended planning meetings, helped plan events for youth in Baltimore, and did some research on programs that would benefit those struggling with mental health issues.
What was your biggest takeaway from this experience?
This internship helped solidify my interest in majoring in social work and to help youth in the future.
Why is it important for SEED to offer internship programs to their students?
Internships give you the opportunity to network with people in your field, which is super important! It also gives students a sense of independence and prepares them for future internship experiences during or after college.
Are you looking to apply for any internships soon?
I’m already looking into internships in the social work field for this summer.