This spring, Breyanna will accomplish a milestone she’s dreamed of since she was a middle schooler. When she graduates from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, she will be the first in her family to graduate college. The path here started more than a decade ago for Breyanna, when she walked into Breakthrough Central Texas, unsure of what was in store – but curious and excited about what the future could hold.
What Breakthrough gave her was more than just one transformative summer. It was 13 years of consistency: mentors who checked on her, teachers who encouraged her, staff who believed in her before she fully believed in herself. When life felt uncertain and heavy, Breakthrough was a place she could return to and be reminded of her potential. “The longevity of its love and support,” Breyanna says, “has been one of the most consistent and grounding forces in my life.”
That consistency showed up in concrete ways. Breakthrough introduced Breyanna to college campuses and leadership opportunities that made higher education feel real and attainable, not just an abstract, distant dream. Those early experiences ignited a passion and confidence that carried her through college—and now, she’s poised for the next chapter.
This fall, Breyanna Jones will head to Yale Law School, where she plans to pursue a career in criminal and family law, advocating for individuals and families who are often overlooked by the legal system. She wants to be an attorney who understands the law and the lived experiences of the people she serves.
Breyanna has come full circle. She’s returned to Breakthrough as a mentor. She sits with students, helps them with homework, and reminds them of what’s possible. The experience has deepened her appreciation for Breakthrough Central Texas. She now understands it from both sides: as the student benefiting from support, and as the mentor who gets to provide it.
Breyanna’s story reflects the long-term impact of sustained support, and how students become leaders who uplift the next generation.