|
Donna Patterson, a Philadelphia high school senior, took a different route
than most in the college application process. While her friends were concerned
with summer jobs or relaxing in the sun, she decided to participate in Summer
Enrichment at Dartmouth (SEAD), a rigorous two week academic program for bright
high school students who live in areas where a college education has long been
a distant dream. SEAD students are chosen from underprivileged schools in Spartanburg,
SC, Philadelphia, Dorchester, MA, Albany, NY, Enfield, NH, and Anadarko, OK.
The SEAD kids fill out their academic experience by forming relationships with
mentors, who are at the heart of the program. Each child is paired with a Dartmouth
student dedicated to spending the program term forming a lasting bond and unconditional
friendship with children who often have never conceived of trust. Through this
relationship, SEAD focuses on the academic side but also the equally important
social aspect of adolescent development.
To ensure the continued growth of the students, SEAD students return for two
more years after their first summer, divided into term I, II, and III.
“Our goal is to expand students’ conception of what is possible
in their lives,” said Jay Davis, director of SEAD. “We also help
them with the college admissions process.”
Kenny Fleury from Dorchester, MA, captures this idea. “SEAD really gave
me a head start on the college application process,” he believes. “It
really makes me feel good to tell people how far I've gotten in terms of what
I want to do after high school.”
Like her peers in SEAD III, Donna is intelligent and full of energy—and
realizes her own growth in the three years of the program. “SEAD has helped
me to be more open to meeting new people from different backgrounds and ethnicities,”
she said. As a student in a predominantly black high school, she has not had
the chance to meet many people of other races outside Philadelphia. Academically,
Donna also notes improvement. “Classes and SAT courses have helped a lot.
I’ve become more creative as a writer.” The conversation soon shifted
to the outdoor adventures of SEAD. “I did canoeing. I learned how to paddle
and steer. I was scared of flipping over – I worked hard not to flip over!”
William, SEAD III, noted that classes were not exciting, but that “we
danced with SHEBA – they taught us to dance…Man, they got all the
moves.” Later, he explained some other unique activities that the students
had engaged in. “We played capture the cereal boxes because we couldn’t
afford a watermelon…It was hard to run in the rain from the Green to the
river.”
Another SEAD III student had a bit more to say about the program. “SEAD
is just not Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth; it is my second home,” he stated.
“SEAD has given me a lot of first experiences, such as rock climbing, canoeing,
and hiking a mountain. This program has brightened my future.”
Ryan Howe, SEAD III from Mascoma, NH, shares SEAD’s impact as well:
“SEAD has affected my life in a huge way. It began as a summer program
where I got a free computer. Then I began to realize how much more important
it was. It has helped me get jobs, build my resume, meet incredible people, open
many doors into my future, have some good food and plenty of fun. It has also
showed me how important in preparing for the future is, and how to be a better
and more accomplished person.”
Donna recalls her most memorable experience nostalgically. “The first
day before we had met any of our mentors, we had moved into the Choates. We walked
down to Collis to eat dinner. The SEAD staff was on the Green, waiting for us
and excited to see us. The smiles and the hugs and excitement were so overwhelming!
It made me feel really happy because we didn’t even know these people.”
And her favorite part of the program? “I climbed Mt. Moosilauke!”
|
