Professional Development

Black tiles with white letters spelling out Work From Home on a brown background

May 18, 2021 In Beyond the Fellowship, Career, Professional Development

Becoming a Young Professional During a Pandemic: One Year In

When I applied to the FAO Schwarz Fellowship in the winter of 2020, life was different. I submitted my application before heading over to a friend’s house to have a gathering of 15+ people, no masks involved. In late February and early March, as I was interviewing for my position, sanitizing surfaces was a new normal, but still, I did video calls from a classroom at Northwestern, not knowing that I wouldn’t return for a spring quarter.

A group of Fellows posing together in Philadelphia.

May 17, 2020 In Professional Development, Service

Learning How to Adapt: Fellows Discuss the Changing Landscapes of their Organizations

Adaptation and flexibility are key for Fellows and their host organizations. Fellows get candid about their experience so far, discussing what they and their organizations have learned, and what they hope for the future.

Former fellow Jasmine posing with colleagues at Playworks New England

January 30, 2020 In Professional Development

Leading the Recess Wellness Champion Program: How Play Led Me to Greater Leadership Opportunities

My time at Playworks New England has been a transformative experience! At the beginning of my fellowship term, I had a difficult time transitioning from my place of origin in New York City to moving to Boston, a city new to me. I did not have relatives and had very few friends who were in the Boston area. With the support of Playworks, my co-workers quickly became my friends and some even that I could confide in. My position at Playworks has challenged me beyond my comfort zone as it has encouraged me to practice leadership skills and hone strengths that I didn’t know existed in myself.

A group of fellows smiling and dressed warmly standing on a beach- Nick, Joyce, Lauren, Erika, and Annie

July 29, 2019 In Cohort, Professional Development

Shared Knowledge, Experiences and Titles: Navigating the Fellowship as a Cohort

During the last few months of senior year, I made sure to internalize and grow comfortable with the fact that my first job out of college would neither be perfect nor easy. Regardless of what might come next, I knew this next chapter would require a transition out of the lifestyle I’d enjoyed for the past 16 years as a student, and I wanted to give myself grace with that thought in mind. READ MORE