Learning to Be an Adult
- Capital Fellows
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
By Claire Templeton
By the time this blog goes up, we will officially be 25+ weeks into Capital Fellows—crazy! How is it possible that I have been doing this Fellows thing for almost 6 months? As I have settled into this (often chaotic) routine, I find myself more able to reflect more on how I’ve grown these past months.
As I write this, I am at an event for my work placement this year with Atlas Free, an organization dedicated to advancing the mission of anti-trafficking work around the world. I helped plan a substantial fraction of this event, and getting to see it come to fruition has been incredibly rewarding, especially because this is the first time I am meeting most of my awesome coworkers (#remotelife).
One thing to note about this event is that it is taking place at an 1850s manor in Middleburg, VA. Upon driving up the long driveway lined with trees, I took in the many acres of farmland and the beautiful home our team is staying in. When I arrived, I unloaded and made sure everything was prepared before our team members arrived. I carefully put out name tags, ensured we had enough dining room chairs, and scanned for any potential problem areas. The afternoon was going incredibly smoothly until the sun set and the water stopped working in parts of the house.
It first shut off on the third floor, then the second, and finally it shut off on the main floor and basement as well. Because I helped plan this event, everyone naturally looked to me to solve the issue. I am fortunate that my coworkers found the situation amusing, and think that traveling to a barn on the property to use the restroom formed fun memories—we did laugh a lot, and I feel like I was able to bond with my coworkers in a deeper way.
Throughout this experience, I thought of the endearing way my 5th grade host sister described Capital Fellows to her friends, much to the Fellows' laughter: “Claire is just learning how to be an adult!” As I made late night phone calls with the Airbnb host and adjusted water valves, I thought of the accuracy of this statement. I took a deep breath and thought to myself, “Claire, you are really learning how to be an adult right now, and that is truly a gift from the Lord.”
I tell this story because it truly reminds me of how far I, and so many other Fellows, have come over the past 6 months. When asked about my Capital Fellows experience, I usually give a response like “I love that it’s taught me that I am more resilient than I ever thought.” 6 months ago, I probably would’ve crumbled under the surmounting pressure of unmet expectations like the water supply at this gathering. However, I think that my experience in Fellows has led me to be more confident in my ability to handle adverse situations, like advocating for a team of people when they just need some water. I believe that this is solely the Lord’s doing in my life, and I pray it leads me to praise Him more.
Claire Templeton is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2025-26. She is from Wake Forest, NC, and is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This year, she is working for Atlas Free.
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Know a Potential Capital Fellow?
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.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
Thank you for praying for the Capital Fellows each week!
In the coming weeks, the Capital Fellows will be meeting with members of our church to talk about networking for future jobs. For several years, the Deacons have been helping the Fellows make job connections with people in our church and around the DC area. A handful of Fellows already have jobs or graduate school plans, but several are still in the process of searching for their post-Fellows work. Please pray that the meetings with the Deacons and other leaders in the church will produce job opportunities for our Fellows.
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About The Fellows Initiative
Capital Fellows is part of a network of similar programs across the country. This network is called The Fellows Initiative. There are 34 Fellows programs in TFI, roughly 3,200 alumni living around the world, and more Fellows programs on the way.
If you know a church in the US or Canada that would benefit from joining TFI by launching a new Fellows program. Please contact TFI by visiting their website.
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