Name: Julia Hughes
Program: Breakthrough Fort Worth
Subject: 8th Grade Literature (and Literature Department Chair)
School Attending/ Year: Scripps College, Junior ('13)

We had an event this past Monday for the 8th graders called "Fancy Meal." It proved to be one of the most heartwarming and inspiring experiences I have had with Breakthrough as of yet. Fancy Meal is an opportunity for our students to attend a luncheon at high-end restaurant in Fort Worth, during which they sit with friends, donors, and advocates of Breakthrough from the larger Fort Worth community. An example of a guest attending was Texas senator Wendy Davis, who is an active supporter of Breakthrough. This event is an opportunity for our students to both experience formal dining (sometimes for the first time!) and also talk about how important Breakthrough has been to them personally, all the while, honing their interpersonal skills.

We begin preparing for Fancy Meal two days before so our students can feel confident participating. We begin by having a "mock" fancy meal, where give a concise lesson on table etiquette. The second, and most exciting, day of prep is Fancy Boutique. Fancy Boutique, a charity clothing drive conducted by our host school Fort Worth Country Day, where students are assisted in selecting a nice outfit from the boutique for free. Nothing was more exciting than seeing our students arrive in their ties, dresses, sports jackets, and cardigans on Monday morning. They held themselves confidently, obviously proud of how elegant, handsome, and grown-up they all looked. My fellow teachers and I now understand how our parents have felt at every recital, prom, graduation and holiday as we snapped pictures of every moment, trying to capture the day. One of the highlights of the day were the speeches given, one by a past BT teacher and another by an individual that has been both a BT student and teacher. Hearing how Breakthrough has supported these successful individuals clearly inspired our own students, demonstrating to them that the hard work and commitment they exhibit now has direct benefits in the future. I think I speak for all the Breakthrough Fort Worth teachers when I say that our Fancy Meal experience was an absolute success that even further convinced us how vital this program is for our students.