This year's back-to-school season has been anything but normal. Students across the country have swapped shopping for backpacks and lunchboxes for laptops and desks as they prepare to learn from home.
Last week, SEED scholars joined more than half of our nation’s school-age students and returned to school remotely. Equipped with laptops, hotspots, and supplies, our scholars have the tools and the support from their school leaders and teachers that they need to succeed. “I ran into some computer issues on my first day, but I knew exactly who to contact. My student life counselor, Ms. Andrade helped me right away and because of her, my first week was a success. I really appreciate the support system I have,” said Destiny Joyner (SEED MD '23) a sophomore at The SEED School of Maryland.
Our graduates are focused on remaining flexible as colleges and universities alter or reverse their reopening plans. Deborah Omoniyi (SEED MD '20), a freshman at Temple University, began the school year with a hybrid model. She was attending half of her classes remotely and the other half in-person. Unfortunately, by the third week, all of her classes were moved online. “I was disappointed to now have to attend all my classes online, but I understand the importance of staying safe. I’ve made some adjustments, like always asking for help if I need it. This has helped me with mentally handling online learning and sudden changes,” Deborah said.
Sustaining momentum in a global pandemic is challenging. Millions of us have rearranged our work schedules to accommodate social distancing guidelines and to care for loved ones or children who are home during the day. Even with these changes, we continue to face an endless list of unknowns. That’s why we called on our SEED graduates, who know a thing or two about perseverance and flexibility, to share tips on how they are staying motivated. Here’s what they had to say:
Stay tuned for more highlights on how the SEED community is rising to the occasion. And thank you so much for your support of our scholars!