Grace Maffucci is a rising senior at Providence College (Class of 2022), where she is a Music Performance and Spanish major, with a Latinx Studies minor. She joined Breakthrough New York during the summer as a Teaching Assistant at our Bronx location, and was awarded the Susan M. Blum Teaching Excellence Award.
How did you hear about Breakthrough, and why did you apply?
I actually saw Breakthrough New York on LinkedIn. I was looking for teaching experience because I was interested in doing a Fulbright [program] after graduation. Then I saw Breakthrough’s mission about educational equity and it really stood out to me.
As soon as I started teaching I realized I loved it and wanted to keep teaching. It really changed my idea of what I’d be doing. I thought if I got the Fulbright [scholarship], I’d teach for a year then do something else like translation or legal representation of immigrants, but I just really love teaching. I think Breakthrough was so important for that realization. Breakthrough really changed my life. I met a lot of good people, especially my Instructional Coach, Lauren. It’s her fourth year teaching with Breakthrough and she’s amazing. She recommended books for me about being a privileged white person teaching people who do not have the same privileges I do.
In terms of the future, Breakthrough threw a wrench in my ideas — but a good wrench! I never thought I’d go back to school, but I think I might want to for education.
What is the Breakthrough spirit to you?
A lot of students see Breakthrough as a gift. It’s something that’s unique and special to their lives. Being virtual is hard, but it’s only made students more excited for programming in person. I’ve never been one for school spirit, but I’m proud to be a part of Breakthrough. They create a spirit to be proud of.
Do you have a favorite Breakthrough memory?
Winning the Susan Blum Award! Not just because I got the award, which was an honor, but because in the Zoom chat students were congratulating me, even ones who didn’t know me. They really had an impact on me, but they said I had a big impact on them. It was just such a successful summer. I think that was my favorite moment. Just knowing they got something out of me being their teacher made me feel very happy.
There are numerous Breakthrough sites around the country. What made you want to be a part of Breakthrough New York?
I applied to multiple locations, but there was a sense that New York was my home. I think that understanding what it’s like to grow up in New York helps me approach the students in a relatable way. A lot of them wrote beautiful stories about hearing music all night or about how despite the city being loud and dirty, it’s still their home. Those are things I really relate to. It’s a kinship. It’s not just that Breakthrough happens to be in New York. It’s Breakthrough New York. It was really important for me to have that New York context because it definitely changes the way students learn and the way that you teach them.
Fill in the blank: Breakthrough is ______
Breakthrough is an opportunity for growth and change. I’m thinking growth in terms of student growth, but also in terms of social change. By hiring teachers, and engaging families, students, and donors we are promoting a change in society that the weight of equal success is not only placed on the shoulders of students. Breakthrough is opportunity.
