Big Girl Things
- Capital Fellows
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Jessica Li
Hi everyone! I’m currently writing this from my home in Richmond, cozied up and waiting for the ice to melt. No better time to reflect on the past semester, eh?
Last fall, I decided to try something new. On top of the hectic Fellows’ schedule, I finally did the big girl thing and signed up for physical therapy.
Brief backstory: I hurt myself while swimming in high school. My body couldn’t keep up with my willpower during the 100-yard breaststroke, and I ended up seriously injuring my right hip flexor/abductor. At the time, I didn’t realize how serious it was and brushed it off, continuing life and sports as normal. I did a few track seasons, cross country, and even a sprint triathlon.
Fast forward to college, I started playing flag football, and a peculiar thing started happening: after tournaments, I couldn’t really lift my right leg. Then, my back started hurting every night. By the time I started Fellows, my hip would bother me almost every day.
“Surely, I’m fine. My body will get over it. Honestly, I don’t even think I’m injured.” – My genius self
Finally, I decided I should at least try physical therapy. They might tell me I’m exaggerating, and nothing is wrong, but I should at least go. So, I went. And, lo and behold, I did have a hip injury, and my poor body has messed itself up over the past 6-7 ;) years to compensate for it.
Then, I began the painstakingly slow process of physical therapy. Stretching, lunges, cable kickbacks…all the monotonous, low-impact exercises I’m not a huge fan of.
—
Last semester of Fellows felt like physical therapy. It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I was not doing well, and the stress of the transition was flaring up old “injuries”. Like PT, it was and has been frustrating to feel stripped of the growth I’ve accumulated in college and reduced to survival mode.
It’s in this season that I’m reminded that growth is slow, and God is patient.
“We are farmers, children, runners, travelers. Each of these images reminds us that deep, pervasive holiness happens over a lifetime: God’s word slowly reframes our perspective on ourselves and the world…God renews us not at once, but “day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV).” – Scott Hubbard, Desiring God
So, I will take it day by day and receive the new mercies that come every morning :)
Blessings,
Jessica
Jessica Li is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2025-26. She is from Richmond, VA, and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. This year, she is working at the McClerren Group in McLean, VA.
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About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
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