Fellows: The Core of VFA
After graduating and heading back to Colorado for 3 weeks I was able to relax and enjoy an environment that required very little from me. I was able to get back in shape, spend time with family and friends, and reflect on my collegiate experience. However, once VFA bootcamp began two weeks ago those moments of relaxation seemed like a thing of the distant past.
But I love it. And it's not for the reason many might assume. Yes, we have had the opportunity to interact with some absolutely incredible speakers, presenters, and mentors who have made themselves open and available to us now, and in the foreseeable future. This is an opportunity that very few people our age, or at our experience level have access to, and I consider myself very lucky to be a part of a movement with this much interest and momentum. It's strange, but this isn't what has had the biggest impact on me.
This is a post about my fellow fellows. My fellow fellows are what get me out of bed in the morning and inspire me to push myself past my comfort level. My fellow fellows make me questions any preconceived assumptions I might have about a given topic. My fellow fellows have always wanted to be a part of something bigger, and through our collective group, now have the support system to accomplish that.
There are 40 VFA fellows in this inaugural class. We live together, work together, and hang out together constantly. One might think that after a 70 hour work week we might get tired of the constant pressure and stress that small team competition breeds. For us that seems unnatural. If, at the end of the day, I don't see three emails with different group activities planned I know something must be up. This has yet to happen.
I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what a unique opportunity we all have, and how none of us should take this experience for granted. Sure, other fellowship programs bring together groups of bright recent graduates and push them towards a common goal, but they are at a disadvantage due to the sheer number of participants in the program. Even in Teach for Americas first year they had 500 corps members. Our class size is our strength. I didn't think it would be possible to know 39 complete strangers so well after so little time. I didn't know each fellow would bring such a diverse perspective to each task. And I certainly didn't think we would all get along so well.
I have no doubt that VFA will continue to grow in subsequent years. How couldn't it? College grads with an eye for entrepreneurship would be amiss to not consider this a phenomenal opportunity for both themselves and their country. Future classes will still form lifelong bonds and friendships that will serve them well both personally and professionally. But none will be as collectively close as this inaugural class.
To all my fellow fellows. Thanks for taking this journey with me. In two weeks you have taught me so much. I cannot wait to see what the next two weeks, not to mention two years, will bring.
