DeeCurry Buckman (SEED DC ’23, Arizona State University ’26) has always been an enthusiastic learner who pushes herself to excel at new challenges. During her time at SEED, she built deep relationships that remain a touchstone as she navigates her path to success. We spoke to DeeCurry after her recent graduation—in just three years—from ASU’s Local program in Washington, D.C.
Rooted in Relationships
When DeeCurry looks back on her experience at SEED DC, the relationships stand out above all else. Living in the dorms with her peers and student life counselors, she formed strong bonds that still remain an integral part of her life today. “A lot of the student life faculty grew onto me, and I grew onto them,” shares DeeCurry. “People like Ms. Rose Allen—we are thick as thieves. I was also close to all my RAs (resident advisors). I've known a lot of {them} for a long time—some since sixth grade, so I have this rapport with them, and I’ve been able to keep it.”
An avid science student, DeeCurry especially excelled in environmental science. “I really liked that class because I've never been exposed to environmental science. And Mr. Greenaway definitely made it great—he was the coolest teacher I've ever had!”
The boarding school experience also fostered deep connections with her peers as they shared the unique experience of attending the nation’s first urban, public, college-prep boarding school. “The majority of my friend group comes from my graduating class,” she says. “Because we were went through sixth through twelfth grade together, it gave us so much time to network and bond.”
Racing to College Success
Encouraged by her mother and SEED staff to explore ASU, DeeCurry’s research confirmed it was the perfect fit. The ASU Local program in Washington, D.C., offered robust academic and developmental opportunities that helped her identify her strengths, chart her direction, and build a tight-knit peer cohort.
“ASU Local did a lot of resume workshops, character building, and strength mapping. We did assessments to figure out our best majors, how we learn, and how we interact with people,” she explains.
A motivated student, DeeCurry decided to challenge herself by taking extra classes every summer to finish her degree ahead of schedule. “My own will pushed me to do that!” she says.
DeeCurry majored in psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology, a multidisciplinary field she finds fascinating. “I like that the field is so vast. My concentration combines forensics with psychology, which both have so many distinct, interesting elements.”
Throughout her time at ASU, DeeCurry also relied on her SEED Foundation college success advisor, Parker Martin, who served as a consistent sounding board for major milestones. “When I told her that I was changing my major and my program track, we talked through it,” DeeCurry notes. “She asked me about my goals in that field. When I mentioned looking into a master's programs, she helped me brainstorm graduate schools and gave me great ideas on next steps.”
Continuing the Climb
After celebrating her ASU graduation, DeeCurry is heading straight back to the classroom—this time, as both a student and an educator. This fall, she will join the prestigious City Teaching Alliance program at American University’s School of Education, where she will earn her master’s degree while gaining hands-on teaching experience.
While she is excited to begin her teaching journey, in K-12 education, her ultimate goal is to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and teach at the collegiate level. “I feel I'll be happiest if I teach a field that I talk about for hours and hours,” she says. “So getting my Ph.D. so I can teach psychology is my end goal.”
DeeCurry’s passion for lifelong learning and her commitment to cultivating meaningful relationships will undoubtedly take her far—and continue to inspire every community she joins along the way.