Reflections by the Class of 2025
It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. On May 16th, the Charlotte Fellows class of 2025 officially graduated. We had a special evening with fellows and their families along with many of our volunteers. After dinner was served, a blessing was said over each fellow by someone significant in their time as a fellow. It was a joy to celebrate all God has done and is doing through these young adults.
It’s tradition for our fellows to spend some of their final weeks in the program reflecting on God’s faithfulness throughout the past 9 months. A few days before the banquet, the fellows shared some of these reflections with each other. They were asked to consider how God showed up in the good and the hard times, how he stretched them, the people he used to love and challenge them, and how this year will impact their next steps. Included below are a few snippets from these reflections. Enjoy seeing what God has done! (And thank you to so many of you that support this ministry in various ways. You are God’s hands and feet.)
Doing life with five other people has blessed me and refined me beyond measure. As we’ve navigated our differences, I learned that sometimes I need to inconvenience myself in order to love someone better. The way I want to do things isn’t always the right way. I have seen the redemptive moments of conflict that I once would have avoided. I have learned how to say sorry. I have adjusted my expectations to meet people where they are–not where I wish they were. It has been both humbling and freeing to learn how to love each Fellow well.
When I was waiting to be placed with my internship for the Charlotte Fellows, I was originally worried that I was just going to be put in an “intern only” role. I was concerned that I would be bored or not have a lot to do. Praise God, that is not what He had in mind. I know that God placed me at Resound Educators to stretch me professionally in so many ways. I have really grown in my leadership capacity, time management and organization skills, and the ability to confidently step into meetings and networking gatherings alone.
I have experienced a lot of personal growth through counseling this year. I have gone to counseling in the past, but the focus was more on how to manage my anxiety and depression rather than really digging into my story. This year, I have been encouraged to explore the root causes of a lot of my struggles and ways I see the world. It has been really hard but also incredibly beneficial. I’ve discovered so much about who I am.
My host family this year has given me a safe place to return at the end of my long days. They are such an example of hospitality, warmth, kindness, and gentleness. They have modeled Christ in their home. It has been redemptive to see this example modeled to me at age 24, as I hadn’t experienced this before.
Coming into Fellows, I was unsure about using my engineering degree, but was already placed with a firm in town. Work was exhausting and I felt guilty about not doing ministry work as a Christian. That all changed through seminary class and our vocational retreat. We learned so much about faith and work. I started seeing purpose in my work as an engineer and could see how desperate the industry is in need of Christians to love others and do their work excellently. I thank God that he gave me a company that values community and the people far more than just their work performance and productivity. The Lord has completely changed my view of work. Every job has dignity and can be used by God to bring lasting redemption in the here and now.
Congrats, Class of 2025! It has been a gift to walk alongside you this past year and witness God working in and through you. We cannot wait to see how God is going to continue to use you in the city of Charlotte and beyond!