Name: Anoush Arakelian
Breakthrough Site: Cambridge
Subject Teaching: Science
School Attending: Dartmouth College Class of 2014

When I left school this year, I was extremely excited to return as a sophomore. I had already figured out my place at school and had friends to come back to. That should make coming back much easier. Even though Dartmouth hasn’t changed, I know that I have. It might not be as easy as I thought it would be, to go back to the place I called home for a year. My experiences at Breakthrough have opened up my eyes to a lot of possibilities for my future. Not only that, but I have changed significantly as a person.

Although I was supposed to be teaching the students this summer, I think it was I who learned the most. From my advisees, I learned never to judge a book by its cover. Everyone has their own personal story and journey and no two people are the same. If you are ready to listen, people will be willing to share their stories with you. I learned how to open my ears and my heart to my 7th and 8th grade students and my co-workers. I re-learned how to love my education and how to be passionate about learning. It brought me back to how excited I was to learn in elementary and high school and reminded me that it isn’t always the drive to succeed, but the drive to attain more knowledge that is most important. These students showed me each and every day how passionate and driven they were to achieve greatness and learn.

All these experiences are going to help me back at Dartmouth as I begin to navigate life and school with an entirely new perspective. I have realized that I cannot take my education for granted and that I am lucky to be where I am. I am going to be more focused and driven and take advantage of all the opportunities that come my way. Most importantly, this summer has helped me to realize exactly what I want to do with my life. It might not be becoming an educator, but doing something with education is a definite. I saw how I can combine my love for neuroscience and my desire to create a better school system, in changing educational policy. I hope to continue to find my passions and take with me all that I have discovered at Breakthrough.

I know that Breakthrough may be over for this summer, but I am not done with Breakthrough. In the future I want to stay involved with Breakthrough, be it as a teacher, a counselor, or a supporter. This program is powerful and has the potential to help many more students re-ignite their passion and desire to learn. I am grateful to BTC for giving me the opportunity to experience so much this summer. And with that, G-O-O...D-B-Y-E! (But only for now)