PHOTOS: Breakthrough SJC Shares Inspiring Insights Into Program’s Success

This week, Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano demonstrated why it succeeds in helping underrepresented students realize their potential during Visitors’ Day, where inspiring stories and insight into the program’s present-day achievements and future ambitions were shared with supporters of the 13-year-old program.

Breakthrough SJC has a record-high 118 students enrolled this summer in an intensive six-week session at St. Margaret’s for grades 7-9, centered around this year’s theme of “We Break Through.” They are being mentored by 24 teaching fellows, four staff members and five student teachers.

Breakthrough SJC is a tuition-free program founded, hosted and sponsored by St. Margaret’s, providing academic enrichment opportunities and support for highly motivated, underserved middle and high school students in and around San Juan Capistrano, so they can realize their potential to excel in high school and graduate from college. Nearly all Breakthrough students are from low-income backgrounds and strive to be the first in their families to go to college.

“Breakthrough is about people. Not ordinary people, but very extraordinary people,” Breakthrough SJC Director Alex Serna told the audience. “In this room we have 118 very motivated students. … Most all will be the first in their families to graduate college. All are part of Breakthrough and decide, along with the help of their parents, to spend their summer vacation learning, growing and cheering from 8 a .m. to 3:45 p.m. for six weeks.”

The students enjoyed their daily breakfast alongside Breakthrough SJC supporters during Visitors’ Day, sharing their experiences with the program as well as their future aspirations for college and beyond. Visitors also listened to student and teaching fellow panels and visited classrooms.

Further insight into the program was provided by Mr. Serna, who was introduced by outgoing Breakthrough director Victor Cota. Visitors also heard a moving keynote address by Breakthrough teaching fellow Vanessa Lopez, who shared her powerful story of overcoming socioeconomic challenges in her childhood to gain admission into the University of California, Berkeley.

In addition to the six-week summer session, Breakthrough SJC also offers twice-weekly tutoring during the school year for middle school students, weekly tutoring sessions for high school students, and college counseling support for students and parents during the college application process. For Breakthrough students in the Class of 2017, 100 percent enrolled in college after graduating from high school.

“In the coming five years, we will actualize our multi-year strategic plan by serving more students, supporting our students through college graduation and creating institutional sustainability, starting with expanding our newly created endowment,” Mr. Serna said. “More students will graduate high school, more will graduate college and more will return to San Juan Capistrano to reinvest in the community through work or service.

“Regardless of the future, our goals start with continuing to have amazing, determined and passionate people continue to do amazing, transformative and impactful things—all with a smile and with a cheer.”