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Aneisis Mejia, high school sophomore, is one of a group of SEO Scholars, shown here, from throughout New York City who receive intensive enrichment and college preparatory coursework. “This has changed my life," says the young woman from northern Manhattan.
Primarily a rural agriculture community, Yamasá is a small town, “un campo” north of Santo Domingo, the capital city in the Dominican Republic.
“It’s small,” explains Aneisis Mejía, whose mother hails from the municipality near the Rio Ozama known for its crops of sugar cane, plantains and mangoes.
But the small town may soon be known as the place of origin for a family of a young Dominican-American scholar who grew up to become a renowned writer – if she doesn’t become a psychologist first.
“I am always changing my mind” laughs Mejía, 15, of her future career choices.
She’s got some time. As a sophomore at the Beacon High School on Manhattan’s West Side, Mejía long ago decided that dreaming big wouldn’t be enough – not without working as hard as her goals were grand.
Long settled in Washington Heights, along the bustling Dyckman Street corridor, Mejía and her family have grown accustomed to meeting challenges head-on.
As a high school freshman, Mejía sought out and applied to a number of enrichment and scholarship programs intended to aid in academic achievement and college preparatory work.
Her mother was especially encouraging.
“Inténtalo [Try it],” she advised of one particular program that stood out: the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO Scholars), a year-round, out-of-school program founded in 1963 that seeks to that prepare motivated urban public high school students to earn admission and succeed at competitive colleges and universities.
“As a first generation college graduate,” says Frank Cruz, Associate Director of the Scholars Program, “I really do recommend all ninth graders to apply to SEO Scholars. It provides our youth with the challenge, preparation and support needed to achieve at top colleges.”
Mejía did apply, and was accepted to the SEO program in January 2010 as a freshman, much to her shock.
“I didn’t think I would get in, to be honest,” she says, adding that the process for admission into the program had been rigorous.
And she admits that the workload since has lived up to her original expectations.
“It’s definitely a challenging program,” she affirms, noting that she sits in on a two-hour after-school class of English and math once a week in addition to attending an all day enrichment session 3 Saturdays a month with teachers that lead the way in writing, grammar, vocabulary, reading and mathematics. The SEO Scholars are also led in intensive SAT preparation throughout the year, and are also placed in summer enrichment courses.
“You do have to be very disciplined, yes, but the teachers are so wonderful,” explains Mejía. “They keep you engaged, and interested.”
The SEO Scholars program boasts a formidable record of success with young scholars from urban communities, by any measure. All of the 69 high school seniors in the Class of 2011 SEO Scholars program were accepted to four-year colleges, competitive schools that included Dartmouth College, Cornell University, and University of Michigan, to name a few. Moreover, the 2011 Scholars earned more than $1.7 million in scholarships and awards for their first year of college. As a high school sophomore, Mejía credits the program with having successfully drawn up her grades and having granted her a greater appreciation for the topics she’s been tackling.
“English has always been my favorite subject, but it was also one of my worst,” she says, pointing to just-average scores before her involvement with SEO that did not reflect her avid interest in the language and the subject. Similarly, while doing well in mathematics, she did not feel as immersed in the concepts as she knew she should, and could, be.
But through her work in the past year with SEO, Mejía can recently boast of an all-A report card this past semester.
“The last history test I took before enrolling in SEO was a terrible score, a 23,” she says.
No longer, not after intensive work with teachers Nicole and Colin.
“All 90’s since,” she is quick to add now.
Mejía is especially proud of how her work with SEO has transformed her personally.
“I’ve always been a little shy, but now it’s easier for me to open up,” she says, highlighting the relationships that are forged with peer students and with SEO mentors.
Cruz emphasizes that the program is deeply committed to youths in communities throughout the city. He notes that of the 300 students enrolled in SEO Scholars, approximately about 95 are from the Bronx, and another 50 are from northern Manhattan.
“We want to make sure students take advantage of these opportunities to excel now, and for the future,” says Cruz.
And Mejía, the budding psychologist/writer, also encourages her peers to aim high – and to be prepared for the work involved.
“I really encourage everyone to go for it, to apply,” she says unhesitatingly of the SEO Scholars program. “This has changed my life.”
For more information on the SEO Scholars program, and the application process for 9th graders throughout New York City, please visit www.seo-usa.org/ScholarsAdmissions or call 646.442.3856.
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