By Tyler Spaeth ’12
Life is full of surprises, and I would have it no other way. Last February, I would have never imagined myself screaming at the top of my lungs, “G-O-O-D M-O-R-N-I-N-G GOOD MORNING HEY HEY GOOD MORNING.” And at 7:45 every morning! I didn’t know people got up that early in the summer. Or that around 10 o’clock, I would be dressing up in an uncomfortably tight sweater vest paired with a plaid skirt (over my real clothes of course) screaming “A-S-M, A-S-M, A-S-M” over and over again until those three letters were imprinted in my brain like the order of the presidents in
AP US History class. But I guess at that time I didn’t know I would design a 6-week curriculum, teach, and herd a group of fifteen wonderful sixth graders. I was in for a surprise.
Despite all the long nights, early mornings, and stress, Breakthrough has given me a newfound belief in myself. Let me explain. Once during the summer, each teacher is required to design a 20 minute ASM (or All School Meeting). Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I had to keep the attention of 100 middle school students, not an easy feat. I spent hours preparing my word of the day (benevolent), skit, and game. To compound the pressure, it was family day and there would be students’ families watching. Dressed in my classic costume, a plaid skirt paired with a CCDS sweater vest and cowboy hat, I took the stage.
“WORD OF THE DAY- I LIKE WORDS HOW ‘BOUT YOU, IT’S THE WORD OF THE DAY,” echoed through the commons’ walls. The students slapped their thighs with a ferocity only Breakthrough ASM could unleash.
The beat grew louder and louder, as I yelled at the top of my lungs, “BENEVOLENT MEANS TO BE KIND, GENEROUS, AND CHARITABLE.” A chorus of oooooohs and ahhhhhhhhs surged from the audience.
The assembly was a hit. I was not the same boy who could barely deliver a Men’s Varsity Soccer announcement only a year before. Breakthrough gave me confidence. I developed my own curriculum, I wrote my own final exam, and my class signed our own Declaration of Independence. I guess that makes me the leader of a sovereign, independent nation. The Breakthrough Nation.
One day, I walked into class and one of my students told me, “Taylor threw my book into the trashcan.”
Disappointed, I walked into the adjacent classroom and asked, “Taylor, Asia told me that you threw her book into the trash can, is this true?”
“Yes, Mr. Tyler,” he responded, guilt emanating from his eyes.
“You know that means I have to give you a YO (or detention),” I said, still trying to be stern.
“Yes sir, I understand.” I walked out of the classroom, and then stopped. “Wait!?!? Did he just call me Mr. Tyler??” And now I ask you that fundamental question once again: What would life be without surprises?
*Breakthrough Cincinnati is a non-profit organization that serves under-privileged, but academically-motivated students within the inner city and prepares them for entrance into rigorous college-prep high schools.
