MY breakthrough

Grit, ramen, rock-paper-scissors, slothy, ender’s game, blueberries—all of which seem like random things unless you were in my Breakthrough family this summer. I wasn’t expecting to be teaching my first ever class of students virtually in Houston from Ohio, and I really wasn’t expecting to form meaningful relationships with students over zoom calls. And I probably wouldn’t have formed these relationships if I hadn’t had a bit of a wake-up call. It’s been three years since I decided to pursue a career in education, and it was about time for me to find MY breakthrough.

For the first half of my summer, I was slaving over lesson plans and scrambling to get prepared for my classes. I felt in over my head and on the verge of being burnt out. I was talking to my dad one day, and he told me to stop obsessing over reaching the final 10% and to be satisfied with 90%. It wasn’t what my perfectionist-self wanted to hear in the moment, but I sure needed to hear it.

Soon after that conversation, I sat down with my supervisors. I told them about my predicament and they said, “Don’t worry about the 10!” They also asked me to evaluate why I was there—was I there for my students, or was I there for personal gain? And that question hit me like a punch in the gut, because I realized that I went into the summer asking, “How can I make myself a better teacher?”

And I’ll admit, I panicked a bit, especially when I realized that I had become prideful of how humble I am. (I’ll give you a second for that non sequitur to sink in) Point is, I believe that learning and growing is important, but not when growth becomes obsessive.

So I switched my mission to, “How can I invest in my students?” And guess what, I kept growing despite the shift! And this route was so much more fulfilling. It allowed me to live in the moment rather than staring twenty years into the future. This mindset allowed me to give myself grace and actually enjoy myself!

And it reframed how I want to approach my career in music education. I want to be as prepared as I can, but I also want to walk into my first job with an open mind. Investing in my students through the vehicle of music. Nurturing growth in my students. Fostering creativity and showing them the importance of creating creatively.

I am beyond thankful for this experience, and I look forward to future Breakthrough summers! For any of my fellow TFs or supervisors reading this, thank you for making this summer so special! Thank you for walking alongside me as I committed myself to hard work, dedication, respect, and excellence in learning.

Go Breakthrough!!

- Ms. Maggie