A New Perspective
I'll be the first to admit that my primary motivation for joining the Chattanooga Fellows program was pragmatic in nature, looking to gain work experience and build professional references. I mainly saw it as an opportunity to develop my career and establish connections that would help me find better work in the future. However, during my time with the program, I have found that the concept of community has become a more focused subject of thought for me. I’ve begun to recognize the many ways in which people connect and support one another, both professionally and spiritually, through direct experience and my own personal reflections.
One of the key lessons I have learned from the Chattanooga Fellows program is how to engage healthily in environments that move at paces I may initially be uncomfortable with. As someone who leans far on the introvert spectrum, I have often felt the pressure to keep up with extroverted spaces. However, my experience and relationships within the program have taught me that I don’t have to force myself to change in order to belong in a group. Instead, I have learned to be an active part of a community in ways that respect my natural rhythm while still fostering meaningful connections. The program and the friendships I've made within it have shown me that I can contribute in my own way, even if my engagement is sometimes more passive than others'.
Another valuable lesson I have learned is that spiritual practice is not a one-size-fits-all experience. I may not connect with one method of engaging with God, but that’s okay because, as I've come to understand, God speaks to different people in different ways. This realization has helped me to embrace diverse spiritual expressions and find other ways to make my relationship with God a more regular part of my life. A shining example is the way I've been developing the outline for my next story I plan to write. I made a creative decision to include many biblical parallels and symbolism in the story, especially in the book of Revelation. This may not sound substantial, but it's led me to think about God and His word much more regularly, and that alone has gone a long way in strengthening my relationship and faith in Him in the long run.
A moment that encapsulates my experience so far was our retreat to Washington, D.C., particularly my visit to the Library of Congress. Standing in such a vast repository of knowledge and history, I felt a sense of expansion—both in terms of my personal growth and the opportunities available to me. This experience was emblematic of how the Chattanooga Fellows program has broadened my perspective, not just in my career, but in how I see the world and my place within it. While that place may not always be clear to me at the moment, nor will it always be a comfortable one for me, I know that God is designing a great, diverse road made with my traits in mind.