Name: Frank Scarito
Breakthrough Program: Manchester
Subject Teaching: Life Science
School Attending/Year: UNH/senior

When I first applied to Breakthrough, I knew that it would be a lot of work. I understood that the challenge that I would face would be long days and late nights of preparation and revision. I did not anticipate the amount that I would get out of the program. The students that participate at Breakthrough are amazing. They have devoted their summer to bettering themselves through hard work and dedication to their schooling. At such a young age, it is amazing to see the work that comes out of the students. All of the students at Breakthrough inspire me to work harder through their enduring work and efforts.

When I think back to myself as a middle-schooler, I was content with getting through my schooling with the least amount of effort possible.
I worked hard, but I was never motivated to go above and beyond. The idea of school over the summer would have made me cringe. These students no doubt have a drive that a lot of kids do not have. To show up at 8 am and work hard until 3pm (not including homework!) would have been a challenge for a younger version of myself. Everyday, these students never cease to amaze me.

When I first applied to Breakthrough, I also did not have the idea that I would be able to learn so much about my own work ethic. I must say that I have never worked this hard at a job in my life. The best part about the work that I put in as a teacher is that it doesn’t seem like work to me. The smiles and feats that I get as a teacher make it 110% worth it. I have come to enjoy the late nights and the amount of reflection that I have put into my students’ work and also my own work as a teacher. My only regret is not starting this program earlier. As I approach my senior year, as an Earth Science and Teaching major (the “teaching” addition came after my first summer at Breakthrough), I look forward to being able to graduate with much more experience in education than what I could have ever gotten from inside a classroom.

I truly feel as if the dynamic of Breakthrough is one that could be embraced by all school systems, and is one that would be a very difficult concept to learn within a classroom. This hands-on experience is something that I will be able to take with me for the rest of my life.

As we wrap up our last week in Manchester, I feel as if I can also be extremely proud of the faculty that I am a part of. The teachers here have an incredible work ethic and I know that whatever the profession that they go into, they will all be an incredible asset to their respective occupations. The drive and commitment of these teachers, to not only personally achieve, but to collaboratively achieve great results is incredible and something that a person does not experience at every job. We are all leaders in this community and I believe that we all have potential to make big changes in the future. My hope for the final week this summer is that teachers continue to give full effort and continue to be heroes and inspire the people that surround them.