Hena Vadher is one of the Student Support Coordinators at Breakthrough Twin Cities! Check out what she has to say about her experience at Breakthrough!
Q1. Tell us a little about your background! Where did you grow up, where did you attend high school and college, what did you major in, etc. And how did you first find out about Breakthrough?
A1. I grew up in St. Paul and attended Mounds Park Academy before heading off to college at Washington University in St. Louis. There, I studied International Development, with a particular interest in human rights. I first heard about Breakthrough as a student at MPA. After graduating in May of 2017, I was reconnected with Breakthrough when Wade Peterson (Breakthrough’s college counselor and fellow MPA alum) reached out regarding an open position at Breakthrough that was too good to pass up! I’ve been at Breakthrough in some capacity for a year now. I started in September of 2017 as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, serving at Breakthrough as my host site. In early April of 2018, I transitioned into my new role as the Student Support Coordinator for the MPA site.
Q2. How has Breakthrough helped you to grow as a person, and what new skills have you developed through your work?
A2. It’s difficult to articulate just how much Breakthrough has influenced my perspective. While at Breakthrough, I have learned so much about the value of long-term vision, living the growth mindset, and being patient with myself and others. In my work, I’ve had the opportunity to practice conflict management and navigate across different conflict styles, develop a sense of value for work-life balance, and work on creating program design frameworks that can be implemented (and improved!) for years to come.
Q3. What is one other thing you would like to tell people either about yourself, Breakthrough, or both?
A3. I subscribe to the philosophy that two of the most precious resources to one’s individual experience are people and time. I am so deeply grateful to work for an organization that shares those values. I am humbled to continue Breakthrough’s legacy by creating communities that support each other in challenging norms and breaking down barriers so that individuals can make their dreams their reality.
