Tim’s Story of Success
It’s difficult to pinpoint what mattered most about my experience at SEED. From the culture we created to the relationships formed, the lessons learned, and the wisdom imparted—so many pieces of my journey still benefit me today. But one key factor that stuck with me is the sense of community.
As a member of SEED’s first graduating class, we established a community together. We all had pride in our school and this pride brought good things to SEED. It helped shape SEED. Co-founders Mr. Adler and Mr. Vinnakota had an innovative idea, and it has continued to morph into what it is today—a community of schools across the country.
The importance of community led me to enroll at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. After visiting North Carolina A&T on a SEED college tour, me and Jaron Butler, who is one of my closest friends from SEED, knew immediately that this was where we wanted to spend the next four years. I had that same feeling that I had at SEED—the teachers, staff, and students at North Carolina A&T were all welcoming. While in college, I loved meeting people from all over the country—from different walks of life. This experience gave me the ability to appreciate differences. It’s also when the conflict resolution skills that I learned at SEED kicked in.
I left SEED with a suitcase of tools I have used over the years during times of challenge. There were moments at SEED I may not have understood at the time, but that I was able to pull from as I matured. I had mentors such as Mr. Taylor that knew how to relay messages to me and my peers in a way that we would understand. I developed a sense of independence and how to learn from my mistakes. And most importantly, I learned how to make decisions for my future.
As I reflect on my time at SEED, I am thankful that I persisted. I had an urge to leave to pursue basketball, but my father and Ms. Poole kept me grounded. They asked, “What do you want to do with the rest of your life?” I knew that I came to SEED to get a college degree and I knew that SEED would help me achieve this goal.
The structure and focus that SEED provided me is needed in schools all over the country. It’s an experience that you take with you as you grow and become a contributor to society. And 20 years later, SEED still feels like home. I have moved all over the country, I’ve started a family, and now I serve as a contracting officer for the Air Force. But I know that I can always come back, I know who in the SEED community I can reach out to. I’m proud to be a SEED graduate.