SEED seniors kicked off the school year with College Prep Boot Camp hosted by The SEED Foundation’s College Transition & Success (CTS) team. The two-day event is an introduction to the process of college selection, including identifying right fit colleges and universities, understanding the financial aid process, and learning about the many resources SEED students use to set themselves up for college success.
One hundred percent of seniors in the SEED Network—SEED DC, SEED Maryland, and SEED Miami—participated in this year’s virtual Boot Camp. The Class of 2022 met their college transition and support teams and heard from staff, consultants, and SEED graduates about what to expect in the year ahead. SEED leaders set the stage for the two days of seminars, panels, and celebrations with their answers to the question “Why College?”. Some of their answers included:
· “College gives you four more years of discovering who you are. It shapes your identity –who you are and who you want to be in life.” – Brian Rahaman, head of school, SEED DC
· “College isn’t just about getting a job. It makes you a more well-rounded individual who can be comfortable in any room.The network you build in college will be important for the rest of your life.” – Kirk Sykes, head of school, SEED MD
· “Take your why and put it up somewhere that you will see it every day. Because there will be times when you get frustrated or lose sight of your goals, and this will be your reminder.” – Kara Locke, head of school, SEED Miami
· “College gave me choice for the rest of my life. I learned that my identity was a choice—that I could be anything.” – Jillian Juman, head of school, SEED LA
· “A college degree means power, and strength, and it is our right.” –Vincena Allen, chief growth officer at The SEED Foundation
The Class of 2022 became more familiar with the resources they’ll be using as they make their college plans and decisions for next year. The SEED model is centered on supporting each student’s’ individual interests, talents, and goals, so we work with students to seek out the school that aligns best with their future goals. The CTS team explained why considering right fit colleges helps students succeed. Based on criteria gathered from data and experiences from previous SEED graduates, the right fit model ranks colleges by affordability, graduation rates, and the quality and availability of on-campus support resources. Students got an introduction to financial aid including federal and state aid and scholarships. At SEED, seniors start working on their FAFSA’s early in the year and continue to build their financial literacy so that college costs don’t stand in the way of their ability to earn a college degree.
SEED seniors got a jump start on their college essays, thinking through prompts such as “describe a memorable meal,” to get their creative juices flowing. They analyzed sample texts and defined the elements of storytelling that worked best. “Everyone has a story that only you can tell,” said Roxy Azari, director of coaching at Story 2, who facilitated the discussion and walked students through how to use the Story 2 resources as they continue to craft personal essays for college applications.
A highlight of Boot Camp was the panel discussion with SEED graduates Aron Simpkins (SEED MD ’21, Towson University ‘25) and Balin Carey (SEED DC ’12, Bowie State University ‘19). Facilitated by SEED DC senior Keyshawn Wormely, seniors got advice from a college student and a college graduate on topics such as choosing schools and their experiences on campus dealing with issues such as time management, deciding on a major, and finding your place.
Balin stressed the importance of using the resources available to them at SEED. “I want everybody to take advantage of the CTS team—like reviewing your applications and essays and helping you with financial aid. Not everyone at regular public schools has that. The CTS team supports you and helps you make sure you’re doing everything you need to do.”
Only a few weeks into his freshman year at Towson University, Aron Simpkins (SEED MD ’21) has already signed up with campus clubs such as the Black Student Union and is balancing his coursework with making friends and seeking out the diverse experiences he wants out of college. “College is what you make it,” said Aron, “I had to put myself out there to make friends.”
Quinton Lampkin, the director of the college transition & success program thanked Balin and Aron for coming back to share their experiences and for exemplifying SEED’s mission and values. “These are two great role models—they have come back to lift others up while they are climbing.”
The SEED Class of 2022 has a lot of hard work ahead of them, but they’ve shown that they’re up to the challenge. They’ve also shown incredible persistence and resilience, and they haven’t let the challenges of the pandemic dampen their resolve. With resources such as senior seminars, financial aid workshops, help with applications, and one-on-one advising, these seniors are continuing their trajectories towards achieving their education and career goals. As they undertake the final push towards college, they have the full SEED Network behind them, providing the encouragement, support, and knowledge they need to succeed.