High School Innovators Shine: The Magic of SELF

The smartly-dressed fellows stood together, waiting to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges, all business industry leaders. Some paced, some spoke encouraging words to one another. Ideas included affordable, enhanced GPS technology, a variety of apps including one for ex-convicts to find employment and mental health support, one tracking emergency personnel, one to help people on the autism spectrum find community, and one to encourage meditation and mindfulness. There was a device to monitor water quality and another, which ultimately took first prize, to provide low-cost oral health monitoring and cavity detection.

It was hard to fathom that these ideas had been developed in just two weeks’ time, by high schoolers who at the beginning of that time were all strangers to one another. But this is precisely what the two-week intensive program known as SELF (Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows) cultivated. Now in its fifth year, SELF, which is part of the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets at the Robert H Smith School of Business, aims to give high school students a real taste of college, as well as exposure to the business world. For two weeks, these young people lived together on the campus of the University of Maryland, guided by dedicated Smith School faculty, staff, and students.

“SELF really has three themes,” said Christina Elson, managing director of the Ed Snider Center. “There is, of course, the business competition, but there are two other equally important themes—personal leadership and maintaining a growth mindset.”

For 17-year-old Emem Uapong, the focus on leadership skills development was invaluable. She said she was really impressed by the way she and her fellow students were encouraged to think about their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the sorts of things that they truly enjoy doing, and how that was woven into their classes and daily assignments, as well as the development of their final projects. “These are definitely skills that I’m going to take with me as I go out into the world,” she said. Additionally, she said, she is now strongly considering business school. “I never really thought about it before, because my high school career has been very STEM-centered,” she said. “But now I think I actually really want to go into marketing, because that’s where my skills lie, and I actually have a passion for doing it.”

One of the main focuses of the SELF program is to create environments that encourage people to flourish. Megan Keefe, a rising high school senior from Orange County, California said that she was initially intimidated by the thought of living and taking classes with 33 strangers. “I thought I was going to be such an outsider, because I’m from California, and I’d heard most people were going to be from the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia),” she said. “But then everyone was so welcoming right away. It was a really supportive group.”

Amod Mather, a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, was a Resident Advisor for the program. “We worked with the students not only on resident life, but we also helped them with their presentations,” Mather explained. Mather, who was himself a SELF fellow prior to coming to Maryland, explained that it was eye-opening and useful to help the SELF fellows work through their challenges. “Everyone gets really, really close,” he said. “We call it the magic of SELF.”

That closeness was on display while the students presented their business ideas to the panel of judges. The students clapped and cheered for one another, listening attentively to the presentations, and to the rigorous questions the judges asked afterward. While the judges deliberated who would be awarded first, second, and third place, QUEST honors program executive director and SELF co-director Joseph Bailey praised the students for all of their hard work during the two weeks. “Are there any shout outs for your peers?” he asked. Hands shot up across the room, as one by one the students offered up praise and encouragement for one another.

Awards and certificates were given out, and students had the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from the judges. The students gathered in a circle to talk about their experiences, and to get feedback from faculty and staff. Rajshree Agarwal, Director of the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets and SELF co-director addressed the students and their gathered friends and family. “It has truly been an honor and privilege to share these last two weeks with these fine, fine young men and women,” said Agarwal. And to the students, she advised, “Be kind to yourself. If you’re kind to yourself, you’ll be kind to others.”

Lia Kvatum is a freelance writer and producer based in Washington, DC.  In addition to the Ed Snider Center, her clients include The National Geographic Society, The Smithsonian Institution, PBS, and the Washington Post.  More of her work can be seen at LiaKComms.com.