During my first check-in with Priscilla, the Executive Director of the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, she suggested that I find some time to meet with the other two New York-based fellows in my cohort. We took her suggestion, having the first of many post-work meetups at Bryant Park over Joe’s Pizza. That initial dinner has since evolved into a weekly pizza night, a tradition that’s turned us from strangers to fast friends. 

While a few new friends in a city of 8 million people might seem like a small win, those who have spent some time in New York know that the opposite is true. Building meaningful and lasting relationships is a difficult task in New York’s fast-paced and ever-changing context. As one of my mentors from my host organization, Reading Partners, shared, “Making friends in New York is like awkwardly squeezing yourself into the empty space between two strangers on the subway.” It’s uncomfortable at first and can require quite a bit of courage, especially from introverts like myself, but the outcome is usually worth the trouble. 

In many ways, it feels like the fellowship cohort experience has been a way to skip straight to the outcome without nearly the anticipated amount of obstacles. A shared passion for social impact serves as a foundation for connection, and the fellowship leadership’s dedication to fostering meaningful relationships acts as a catalyst. From dinner gatherings covered by the FAO Schwarz Foundation to retreats that intentionally center community building, the fellowship has led me to develop bonds that I simply would not have formed so quickly otherwise. 

In addition to the cohort, the fellowship comes with an alumni network that has played a crucial role in my adjustment to both a new job and a new city. Even before I accepted my offer from Reading Partners, I had the opportunity to connect with Natalia, an alumni fellow who helped me to make an informed decision. Her transparency and support, both regarding the fellowship and life in New York, proved to be invaluable. In fact, it was her advice that initially helped me to navigate the NYC housing market, which is widely known to be a nightmare. 

A few months into my role, Jacob, the other FAO Schwarz Fellow at Reading Partners, and I also had the opportunity to connect with Gaby and Joe, who were both part of the 2014-2016 cohort at Breakthrough New York. Given that Gaby and Joe were ten years into their careers and that the fellowship had served as their initial launching pad, their advice allowed us to envision our own careers ten years out and to better understand the role that the fellowship would play in them. From maintaining a work-life balance to navigating difficult conversations in the workplace, Gaby and Joe have provided advice that has been meaningful to both our professional and personal growth. 

With all this given, when I received that message from a prospective applicant who was hoping to connect with me, I was not only ecstatic to discuss the fellowship but able to confidently say that I’ve gained more than professional experience. Yes, moving to New York and starting my first full-time job out of college has been a difficult transition, to say the least – but I’ve never felt like I’m doing it alone.