As a new academic year begins, we are excited to welcome you back to NC-HCAP News. Our summer was quite busy and we cannot wait to share highlights of it with you. With the support of our partners, we welcomed 50 students from across North Carolina into SEP this summer.
 
If I had any doubts about the rigors of SEP and the sacrifices that students make to participate in it before, they have been diminished now. My participation in Harvard's Management Development Program gave me a glimpse into the life of an SEP scholar.
 
As I packed for this two-week experience, it felt as if I was preparing to be gone for two months. I wondered how our students pack for an eight-week program.
 
Upon my arrival, a staff member greeted me by opening my cab door and assisting me with my heavy luggage. I was grateful because I didn't think I could pull my suitcases another inch! I am so glad that our SEP program assistants are on hand to assist the scholars and their families move into the dormitory. It is not only much needed assistance, but also a courteous gesture and a wonderful way to welcome them to the program.
 
After leaving behind mid-90 degree, sunny and humid weather, I was hit with cloudy, rainy, low to mid-70 degree weather. Being many years removed from a dormitory living experience, I was not eager to enter my room but I could not wait to turn on the heat. Heat? What heat? It had been turned off for the summer. There I was in my dorm and it was cold, damp and without a television. "I am doomed," I thought.
 
Everyone has their preferred place to study and my room is mine. But how would I do this effectively under those conditions? At that point I began to understand how critical accommodations are for students participating in rigorous academic programs - whether they are studying in the space or just sleeping in it. (A big thank you to UNC Housing).
 
It was time to go to class and it was a hike from our dorm to our classroom. So much for the cute heels that I packed - it was sneakers everyday. I walked several miles (or at least it felt like it) to class in the rain almost daily. I was drenched and cold when I arrived to class, but thankfully, I was saved by the outstanding presenters and the interesting case studies. However, the days were still long and the nights were short.
 
How do the SEP scholars survive such a rigorous academic enrichment experience? For eight weeks, they engage in a full day of academics, then an afternoon of seminars, followed by an evening of supplemental instruction and additional study time. Believe me, I developed a new appreciation for the commitment they make to this program.
 
I had a transformative experience at Harvard. I grew in so many ways, but particularly gained a true understanding of the commitment that health professions pipeline students have made and continue to make to demonstrate their commitment to becoming health care professionals. Students, I applaud you and I encourage you to remember that anything worth having is worth the sacrifice!