We sat down with her to hear more about her Breakthrough experience and what it illuminated along her career path.
Q: What inspired you to say yes to Breakthrough?
A: Home. I first learned about Breakthrough when I was in high school, because my high school was the site for Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano. So when I was in college and trying to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go, I knew Breakthrough would be the right opportunity. Truthfully, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into that first summer teaching. But it was life-changing. I went on to teach for a second summer, and then joined staff as soon as I graduated college.
Q: One of the values at Breakthrough is joy. We like to talk about the joy of learning between a student and a Teaching Fellow. When you hear me say “the joy of learning,” what does that mean to you as a Teaching Fellow alumna?
A: It’s making it fun. Having games with them. Not just the subject, but how can you apply to real life? How are they going to use this in the real world? When you can actually apply these real world scenarios and situations to these academic subjects, that’s when the “Aha” light bulb goes off in their head.
Q: How did Breakthrough shape your career and your leadership journey today?
A: Breakthrough was the foundation. It gave me the pieces of the puzzle for me to put together and eventually land where I am today. I knew from being a Teaching Fellow that I wanted to be an educator. When I was on staff, part of my journey as an AmeriCorps VISTA was to start a college mentor program for rising seniors. I was exposed to a lot of the college application process and was able to guide our mentor volunteers to help students. I also got to witness our assistant director helping students through their college admissions counselor. That’s when I was able to pinpoint, this is what I want to do. And now, all these years later, in my role as a college and career readiness teacher, that’s exactly what I do.
Q: Breakthrough has been around for almost 50 years. How can alumni play a role in Breakthrough’s next chapter?
A: Through mentorship. I feel like there are a lot of organizations helping students get to college, but once they are in college it’s really challenging. Alumni can help support Breakthrough alumni while they’re in college–especially for the ones they taught at their host sites. That’s how we can shape the next chapter, in terms of helping students get through college, helping them build a network of Teaching Fellows and alumni Teaching Fellows to guide them to where they want to go. Teaching Fellows go into various fields, and Breakthrough students will too. So using alumni to mentor students in college can help them build their professionalism, build the skillset, and create a network to help them get their first job, build within their career field, and all of that.
Q: If I were a Teaching Fellow alum, what would you tell me to do? What would be my call to action?
A: Give back. Give back and know that there’s a whole generation of young adults who are following in your footsteps. Know that they are looking up to you as their guidance, as I want to be that person one day. Because that was me! I used my directors and assistant directors as my guidepost of, “That’s who I aspire to be.” Remember there are always generations behind you who are using you as their guiding post.