Breakthrough New York profoundly emphasizes community, viewing it as essential to fostering a sense of belonging and collective empowerment among our students, families, volunteers, and staff. For Karen Li (Yale University, Class of 2023), that sense of community remains the most special part of the program and the reason she continues to be so involved with Breakthrough.
After graduating from Yale University in 2023, Karen continued to lean on the Breakthrough community as she looked to the future. “Throughout my post-graduate job search for a role in the intersection of finance and social impact, I was blown away by how many people involved with Breakthrough have been willing to help me — from people on the Board of Directors to friends that I have known since I was in Breakthrough’s middle school program,” Karen said. She added that Laura Drumm, BTNY Board Member, provided invaluable support throughout her job search and has now become a mentor to her.
Breakthrough New York also builds that sense of community by pairing students with mentors who can relate to their experiences, fostering peer-to-peer learning. Karen credits her high school mentor, Hui Cheng, for guiding her through high school and college.
“Hui and I bonded over shared lived experiences such as being Asian American women from immigrant families. She always took the initiative to check in with me throughout college to catch up and give me advice about topics related to both my personal and professional life,” Karen added. “Hui was essentially my older sister at Breakthrough, and I am really grateful to have known her for so many years.”
Karen’s relationship with her high school mentor inspired her to give back as a College Access Mentor to Breakthrough New York students entering the college admissions process.
“Being a college mentor was such a good reminder of the help I received and how much work Breakthrough staff put into making sure I was set up for success,” Karen remembered. “Watching students grow, helping them navigate their applications, and being able to celebrate their accomplishments as well as lift them up during challenging times was such a valuable experience.”
Karen graduated from Yale in May 2023 with a degree in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration Studies and recently completed a fellowship studying Chinese in Taiwan. She now works as a public finance investment banker, focusing on affordable housing, transportation, water authorities, and other public sectors. Karen credits her close friend and fellow Breakthrough alum, Yuan Chen, for informing her about the open role and helping her prepare for the interviews.
Karen remains deeply committed to Breakthrough New York. “I’m so grateful to Breakthrough for shaping my self-confidence and for giving me resources I would not otherwise have access to,” Karen said. “I stay so involved because of the friendships I have built and the staff members who are dedicated to helping students. Breakthrough is a special and empowering place that I could not imagine my life without.”
