Breakthrough is a positive, funny, loving community, and an amazing family. I now know that I’m going to succeed and make it to college, stay ahead in my classes, and make my Breakthrough family proud.
– Elizabeth, Breakthrough Somerville Campus class of 2024

My family is from Haiti, the Bahamas, and Cuba, but Breakthrough is my family now too. They are helping me chase my dreams and impacting me in so many ways. I’ve always second guessed myself because of where I grew up and what people said about where I’m from. But Breakthrough teachers told me that I’m a leader, not a follower. And I believe it now.

Breakthrough has also helped me be more open and make new friends. I’ve gone to the same school for eight years and always stayed with my crew. This summer changed that. I made a lot of new friends, including people who, at first, I thought I would never be friends with.

The most challenging part of the summer was keeping up with all the homework. During school, I used to somehow manage to get my homework done late at night, when I was tired. This summer, I changed my routine and did my homework right after I got home from Breakthrough. I’m keeping up that habit now in school.

Sometimes it can be hard to remember all the material that I learn in school, so reviewing it over the summer at Breakthrough really helped. I especially loved that there are fewer people in our classes because it makes it easier to learn. I left feeling ready for seventh grade.

My favorite part of this summer was when people would win Spirit Sticks. It’s a big deal at Breakthrough to win a Spirit Stick. It’s like evidence for your claim (a concept we learned in writing class), and it reminds you of how well you’re doing and how you’re improving. When I won a Spirit Stick, I was shaking because I was so scared to get on stage, but I was also so happy.

This summer was just the start of my Breakthrough journey. I know that it will help me succeed in ways that I can’t even imagine. Breakthrough is a positive, funny, loving community, and an amazing family. I now know that I’m going to succeed and make it to college, stay ahead in my classes, and make my Breakthrough family proud.

The impact Breakthrough has already had on me, and the ways they will continue to help me for the next six years, are possible thanks to the support of people like you. I ask you to please consider supporting Breakthrough the way Breakthrough supports me!