Breakthrough was a defining experience for Jassmin Del Rio, as a professional and as a person. She was first a Breakthrough student in middle school, when she found such a deep sense of community and purpose that she went on to become a Teaching Fellow while in college. Currently working in nursing, Jassmin says that Breakthrough transformed her into a lifelong education advocate, no matter what field she’s working in. We took a hike with Jassmin on a trail she used to hike as a tradition with all of her fellow Breakthrough students and teachers. She shared more about the way her Breakthrough years shaped her understanding of career, character, and community.
Q: Tell us about your Breakthrough story.
A: I feel like I’m Breakthrough’s biggest fan. I started after my first year of middle school. Someone came to my school to talk about it and me and all my friends wanted to do it. I signed up and it changed my life. I’d always been influenced from a young age by my mom to shoot for college, to shoot for education. I didn’t know what that really meant until Breakthrough. Then I started to really understand what it meant to be high achieving and have a lot of determination. I went on to become a Teaching Fellow after being a Breakthrough student. It made me such a huge advocate for changes to our education system and more support for teachers. I have a whole new outlook on education because of Breakthrough, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Q: What was one of your most defining moments as a Breakthrough student?
A: Probably the first time I saw the dance performance that the teachers did at the end of the summer. I think that moment stuck with me because it made me really emotional – it was the end of the summer and we wouldn’t see them again until next summer. It was also so fun to see them be silly and coordinate this whole thing, doing their best dancing even though some of them were self-proclaimed bad dancers. It kind of helped me break out of my shell for my next summers there. It encouraged me to be silly and have fun with things, because when you’re in middle school things can seem so angsty and so serious. But Breakthrough is all about putting yourself out there: the chants, the performances. It encouraged me for the rest of my Breakthrough summers to put myself out there. Even if you’re feeling silly or shy, everyone will be supportive of you.
Q: What was your defining moment as a Teaching Fellow?
A: The day I had a class where I fumbled on the lesson plan. I kind of stood there for a little while, thought to myself about how I let the ball drop on this one. I realized how much preparation goes into teaching, running a classroom. You have to be passionate and determined. I was determined not to let that happen again, to make every class count for my students. Teachers have such a hard job, and they need so much more support, so much more of the resources it takes to be a successful teacher. It’s hard work and doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
Q: How did your Breakthrough experience help shape your career today?
A: Before Breakthrough I wanted to be a teacher. I loved how supportive and loving my teachers were, and wanted to be that for somebody else when I eventually grew up. After doing the program I wanted that even more. Then I became a Teaching Fellow and realized how much work and creativity goes into teaching. I realized I didn’t have quite the right personality for the job. There’s a lot of pressure with it. I needed something more straightforward, because teaching didn’t come naturally to me, even though I wish I did. A lot of my close friends who I did Breakthrough with went on to be teachers.
Q: If I were a community member and you wanted to share anything about the value of signing a student up for this experience, what would you tell them?
A: I would tell them Breakthrough is a life-changing program. It really helped me streamline my way to college and my career. All of the teachers and staff members get to know you, they’re nurturing, supportive, attentive, they help us achieve the things we want. Not only is Breakthrough a helpful educational program, but it helps socially. For kids to have all of this external emotional support is so important. It’s the kind of program that every single child deserves. To have people be there for you, to be surrounded by this loving community that feels like a giant hug.