My name is Shawn, and this is my third summer as an AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow Breakthrough at the UT site, where I teach math.
I am also a proud Breakthrough student! I currently go to Texas State University, majoring in Interior Design. I first heard of Breakthrough when my mom woke me up at 7 am and told me I had to go. That was back when I had just finished my first year of middle school, as a rising 7th grader. I had no idea what Breakthrough was, why I had to be there, or who would attend. I remember sitting in the top corner of the UTC and forcing my mom to stay with me till morning attendance. At the time, I didn’t realize how much of an impact Breakthrough would have on my life.
I am a proud first-generation college student!
My family is Hispanic and Black, and I had a lot of pressure growing up to get to where I am now, and I still do. Half of my family didn’t graduate from high school either. I was the kid who would think I failed if I got below an 85 and think my life was over. And, my life took a huge toll after COVID! I was really struggling with grades and school, trying to balance taking care of my younger siblings all alone, who were as young as 3 at the time. And, coming back to in-person school, I was trying to find my balance again.
Throughout that whole journey, Breakthrough never left my side. They regularly checked on me and supported me every step of the way.
When it came time to start applying to colleges and thinking about life after high school, I got stage fright. Everything I had been working towards from middle school to my senior year was coming to a head, and I froze until my Breakthrough advisor took my hand and broke the ice. It’s thanks to Breakthrough that I am where I am today. Breakthrough helped me get out of my shell, introduced me to lifelong friends, supported me through school and times of need, and helped me get to college and stay in.
It helped me so much that I wanted to be the same support for others and became a teacher for the summer, and did it 2 more summers after that.
Being a Breakthrough AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow has been an eye-opening experience. I learned so much about the behind-the-scenes of the Breakthrough community and the hard work of the staff, families, and students. Even though my career is not in education, I have gained so many lifelong skills, for example, leadership. Leadership is a powerful skill to have; it’s about turning a vision into a reality. And I think that is a key factor in Breakthrough.
We get up bright and early, chanting about my little red wagon or a birdie named ah-gah-flah-gah-flee-gah-floo-gah-ish-kah-lah-gah-lee-gah-lew-gah-ah-gah-flah-gah-flee-gah-floo-gah, enjoy the teachers versus students Breakthrough Gets Fit, go through our four academic periods with lunch and team time in between, branch off into our explorations, and end the day with All School Meeting (ASM), where we share and listen to announcements, slam jams, and watch students try to eat an oreo with no hands.
I enjoy teaching math to every one of my students, but my favorite parts of the summer are seeing the strong bonds being built. I love getting to know all of my students and students from other teams and grades. My favorite parts of the days are hearing “Ms. Shawn” or “Miss” followed by them sharing things that excite them or a random lore drop. And, that’s why I kept coming back.
My advice for current and future AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows and Breakthrough students is to show up fully. Show up for yourself, for each other, and for this community. You never know whose life you’re impacting or how Breakthrough might impact yours. I’m living proof that the support you give and receive here lasts far beyond the summer.
