This summer, Mayisha Fariha worked as a Teaching Fellow for Breakthrough New York’s intensive, five-week middle school summer program. She is entering her senior year at Hunter College, where she is double majoring in Adolescent Education and History. Inspired by her love of Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, Mayisha chose to teach 8th-grade writing and literature this summer.
Finding Comfort in the Classroom
Mayisha admits she initially felt apprehensive about the fellowship, as it was her first time leading a classroom on her own. However, she quickly found her footing by building close relationships and trust with her students. She discovered that the most effective way to foster community in the classroom was by incorporating her students’ interests into her lesson plans. “Whether it was basketball, TikTok, or current events, I learned so much about my students’ interests early on in the summer,” she says. “When I created my lesson plans, I always tried to connect our main themes with stuff they were interested in, which I think made them more comfortable speaking in class.” This mutual trust became the cornerstone of their interactions, allowing for open communication and more personalized learning experiences. “By trusting my students to share their thoughts and experiences, I noticed they began to trust me as well, creating a classroom dynamic where everyone felt valued and heard.”
Mayisha also credits her success this summer to the mentorship she received from her Instructional Coach, James Fisher, especially due to his experience teaching literature. Having the autonomy to design her own curriculum while also connecting with him each day helped her build confidence in her teaching philosophy. “He [James] truly taught me how to embody a teacher’s presence and create a classroom environment where students can learn from each other and take ownership of their own learning,” she says.
The Breakthrough Community and Moving Forward
Reflecting on the summer, Mayisha believes it was the collaborative nature of the fellowship that made Breakthrough feel special. “Every single TF (Teaching Fellow) truly cared about one another and offered valuable advice. Even on the challenging days, everyone approached their work with confidence and prioritized the students above all else.” The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose helped her grow as an educator, inspiring her to approach each challenge with resilience and optimism. Mayisha says. “I gained invaluable lessons about teamwork and collaboration from the incredible people around me.”
This sense of collaboration and community is something Mayisha intends to carry forward into her future career. She plans to earn her teaching license in the spring and will be student-teaching throughout the entire semester. In the fall, she hopes to secure a full-time teaching role and is also exploring master’s programs in Special Education. Wherever her path leads, this summer has shown Mayisha the type of learning environment she wants to be part of. “The feeling of uplifting students and everyone around you at Breakthrough taught me what I’m looking for when I go into an education space in the future.”
