Natalia Del Pino - Completing a summer internship (+5 points)

This past summer, I had the privilege of serving as a Teaching Fellow with Breakthrough Atlanta, an educational nonprofit that combats summer learning loss and promotes college readiness through rigorous academic programming. I taught ninth-grade English across three sections of twenty students, developing and implementing my own lesson plans designed to strengthen reading comprehension, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills. Crafting lessons from the ground up allowed me to explore creative and student-centered approaches that kept learning engaging and relevant.

In addition to teaching English Language Arts, I led an elective course in psychology that introduced students to foundational concepts in behavior, motivation, and identity. I also facilitated Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons that encouraged students to reflect on self-awareness, empathy, and community building. These sessions became opportunities to connect academic learning with personal growth, reinforcing my belief in the importance of holistic education.

As part of Breakthrough’s professional learning community, I collaborated with other Teaching Fellows to share best practices, refine instructional strategies, and ensure lessons met diverse learners’ needs. The experience strengthened my instructional design skills and deepened my understanding of equitable education. Teaching at Breakthrough Atlanta reaffirmed my commitment to fostering academic confidence and social-emotional resilience in students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, as they prepare for college and beyond.