Why I Chose the Fellowship: 5 Fellows Share Their Perspective
As your college experience progresses, it becomes increasingly important, and frequently more difficult, to decide how to apply all that youโve learned toward your first job and career. Your education has expanded to the point where you know a lot of things about a lot of things, and it seems like there are endless options and doors awaiting you. Or, youโve specialized so much that youโre excited to dive right in and are just looking for the perfect role.ย
Whether youโre a generalist or a specialist, when you find a good opportunity, how do you know itโs the right one?ย
Here are our 5 first-year Fellows’ perspectives, and why they ultimately chose the FAO Schwarz Fellowship:
Debora Camacho, Smith College,
Fellow at iMentor in New York City
The FAO Schwarz Toy Store has a long history of bringing joy into children’s lives, and being able to extend this same joy by joining a nonprofit organization that focuses on social impact, leadership, and education is what instantly drew me to apply.ย
After listening from current fellows and reading about alumsโthere is amazing work being done all across the Fellowship network. The Fellowship emphasizes that there are bigger-issues at hand, and focuses on ways to both raise awareness of those bigger and complicated issues and also support meaningful and impactful ways to address them.ย
Being able to be part of a cohort of future social impact leaders means I’ll have the opportunity to work and learn alongside others who are also passionate about making a difference. I’m excited to be part of a community that listens to diverse experiences, ideas, and challenges each other, ultimately allowing us all to grow.
Jenevieve Joseph, Spelman College,
Fellow at Hudson River Park’s River Project in New York City
I was drawn to the FAO Schwarz Fellowship because of its commitment to fostering joy among youth. The older I get, the more I reflect fondly on those who supported my journey into the outdoors, and working with the Fellowship allows me to support others the same way.ย
During our current digital era, deliberately fostering community is so vital. The fellowship allows working alongside future social impact leaders. The insights and experiences each fellow will be able to share will demonstrate the social impact interests of individuals across the nation. Each individual within the cohort has taken a different route to the social impact field and I am eager to learn more about their work and what drew them to this vocation.
The opportunity to be an FAO Schwarz Fellow is not one I take lightly. I am grateful for the opportunity to do direct work that benefits the community while simultaneously learning and growing in a city so far from my hometown.ย
Delaney Kenney, Haverford College,
Fellow at Museum of Science in Boston
I was drawn to the FAO Schwarz Fellowship because it provided the opportunity for me to pursue my dream job as a science museum educator while joining a network of mentors who will support both my professional and personal growth. As a college senior, I was nervous about entering the workforce without a support system there to guide me. The Fellowship instantly dispelled those fears because it specifically recruits graduating seniors, serving as a bridge between college and the โreal world,โ and supports Fellows through this transition.ย This fellowship especially stood out to me because it places importance on both social impact and professional development.
I am so excited to be in a position in which I can make a meaningful impact on my community. Being part of the FAO Schwarz Fellowshipโs cohort of future social impact leaders provides me with the opportunity to grow alongside my peers as we learn from the experiences of our mentors to effectively implement programs that will enact lasting positive change in our communities. Being part of the cohort will allow each of us to multiply our efforts as we draw from each otherโs strengths, insights, and experiences to take on, and solve, both common challenges and those unique to our different communities.
Raeva Bali, University of South Carolina,
Fellow at Trust for Public Land in Philadelphia
As an Environmental Studies major, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career path that would allow me to apply the sustainability and environmental frameworks I learned in my undergraduate studies to real-work experience. As I researched the FAO Schwarz Fellowship, I was immediately drawn into the fact that these Fellowship positions all focus on social impact and making a difference. I was amazed by all of the host organizations and their missions, so the fact that I would be able to work with these organizations and receive professional development was incredibly appealing to me!ย
The professional development opportunities, connections I will build with other Fellows and Alumni network, and experience I will gain through my work with the Trust for Public Land are all appealing factors that being part of this cohort will allow me to gain.ย
Shoshanna Hemley, Williams College,
Fellow at Boston Collegiate Charter School in Boston
I went to a normal public school in the middle of the country and somehow ended up at one of the most elite liberal arts colleges in the country. I would not have made it there if it were not for the amazing teachers and mentors who had knowledge of the system and helped empower and uplift me. Boston Collegiate Charter School serves students who may not have had the opportunity for that empowerment without the guidance of the school, and that is something I want to be a part of in order to give back for the mentorship I received.ย
In today’s political climate, non-profits are under attack, and being able to do work that aligns with your morals is rare. I knew that I wanted a chance to further my career in a way that is in line with my commitment to social justice and prepares me to lead in this field that is becoming increasingly difficult to enter. I want to be able to advance my ambition without sacrificing my values. I knew that the FAO Schwarz Fellowship was the way to do that.ย
If you think the Fellowship may be the right first step toward launching your career in social impact, join us for an upcoming info session, and check out our 2026-2028 Fellowships. Applications are due February 1, 2026 at 9pm ET.
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