Brianna Bradshaw first entered Breakthrough Atlanta’s programming as a rising college senior in the summer of 2019. She shared her story with us during our annual Breakthrough Atlanta Fund-A-Scholar fundraising dinner and celebration. Some of her most formative life lessons came from her time learning with Breakthrough’s staff, scholars, and Teaching Fellow peers.
Here, you can read Brianna’s story in her own words:
It is such an honor to stand before you today and reflect on the journey I’ve had with Breakthrough – a journey that has not only shaped me as an educator, but also as a person.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve known that I wanted to be a teacher. There was never really a plan B for me – teaching was always the dream. So, by the time I was finishing my junior year at The University of Alabama, I was filled with excitement and anticipation for what was ahead. I was eager to step into my own classroom – to learn, to grow, and to start shaping young minds. I wanted the chance to lead and create in a space that was mine, not just observe or assist in someone else’s.
That’s when I found Breakthrough. And that summer – my first with the program in 2019 – completely changed my life.
I learned one of the most important lessons of my career that summer: at the heart of effective teaching is the power of relationships.
I remember one student in particular who was always quiet. Many people saw them as a follower, someone who preferred to stay in the background. But by taking the time to build a relationship – to listen, encourage, and truly see them – I watched that student emerge into a leader. Seeing that transformation reminded me that our presence, our belief in our students, has the power to shift their self-belief and their future.
That philosophy – relationships first – has guided me ever since. And it’s the same approach I carried with me when I returned to Breakthrough this past summer as an instructional coach.
In this new role, my mission was not just to provide feedback, but to build trust. I wanted my fellows to know that I was in their corner – that they could lean on me as they navigated the joys and challenges of teaching. And they did.
What I witnessed over the course of the summer was nothing short of inspiring. We started as a department that was hesitant – unsure of how to teach math to young scholars, unsure of how to manage a classroom, unsure of their own voice. But day by day, I watched them grow. Through their adaptability, their openness to feedback, and their willingness to push themselves, they transformed into confident educators. By the end of the summer, they had identified their teaching styles, mastered classroom management, and, most importantly, built strong, meaningful relationships with their students – just as I had learned to do years before.
The lessons I’ve learned through Breakthrough are not ones I leave behind at the end of the summer. They are the foundation of who I am as a classroom teacher today. Every single day, I use these philosophies – the power of relationships, the importance of believing in my students, and the commitment to helping them grow into the best versions of themselves – in my own classroom. Breakthrough didn’t just prepare me for this work, it shaped the educator I am and continue to become.
This is why Breakthrough matters. It’s not just a summer program. It’s a space where potential is nurtured – in students, in teachers, and in leaders. It’s a place where futures are shaped, not only for the scholars in the classroom, but for everyone who walks through these doors with a desire to make a difference.
When I think about the future of education, I am filled with hope – hope because I’ve seen what happens when passionate people come together to support, uplift, and believe in one another. Hope because I’ve seen students discover their voice and teachers discover their purpose. And hope because programs like Breakthrough are cultivating the next generation of leaders – not just in classrooms, but in communities everywhere.
Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible – the staff, the donors, the families, and the fellows. Thank you for believing in the mission. And thank you for believing in what’s possible when we invest in people and relationships.
Because that’s where change begins. And that’s how it continues.