Fellow's First-Aid

Capital Fellows
24 hours ago
4 min read

By Jessica Li

By the time you're reading this, we will have completed around 80% of our Fellows year. Time is flying by, and everything Fellows-related is geared towards preparing for the next season. I'm currently applying to master's in counseling programs and part-time jobs in the area while thinking through housing and summer plans.

Amidst all of this, I find myself asking: "Okay, what do I need to survive and thrive in the post-Fellows season?"

To answer that, it helps to look back. Because if I think back to the fall, the start of Fellows was a challenging time. I felt a bit taken aback by how difficult it was to adjust to all the changes and noticed how different parts of my story were being poked and prodded. Spring semester has been so much better (praise God), and I want to use this momentum to set myself up for success next fall.

When considering what I need for this next season, my initial thought is "Well, God…duh." And, this is true. AND, in addition to God, a big lesson I'm learning during Fellows is the importance of community for thriving.

I'm someone who naturally gravitates towards doing things myself—maybe it's more efficient, maybe it's easier, or maybe it's what I'm used to. And so this year has been a process of learning what it means to live in community. Do I invite people into my mess? How do I do that? Do I really have to do it?

Well, God designed us to thrive in community. I wish I had a "y'all" version of the Bible to see all the places where "you" is actually plural. But even without it, Scripture provides numerous examples of the importance of living life with brothers and sisters. (ex. Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12:4-5, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Galatians 6:2…the list goes on)

And yet, after writing on this, I would love to say I'm eager and open to sharing about my life, and I frequently lean on those around me. But that's not exactly true. I am very much still wrestling with inviting others into the unpolished version of my life. And, I think that's okay, not in a complacent way, but just knowing that some things take time.

Cheers to being a work in progress,

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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If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2026-27, please encourage them to get in touch with us. The easiest way to express interest in the program is through our Contact Us Form. You can learn more about the program, including application deadlines, by visiting the Capital Fellows website.

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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In the weekly gathering of fellows called Roundtable, we work through four themes: vocation, servanthood, community, and leadership. As we step into the final theme for the year, leadership, please pray that the fellows will receive the call to lead and respond with willing hearts and hands. Leadership that is selfless (Philippians 2:3) and sacrificial (Romans 12:1) can only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. May He meet and encourage these fellows as they take their place as leaders at work, in the church, at home, and in society.

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