My Journey as a Communicator  

 My Journey as a Communicator  

“What do you know now that you didn’t before becoming a fellow?” As I reflected on this question for my final presentation, it struck me how little I truly understood about communications, let alone the field of public interest communications before embarking on this...
Stories as a Catalyst for Change

Stories as a Catalyst for Change

After being home for a few days, I can reflect on my experience and everything I learned from being a Frank Karel Fellow. During my time with Mary’s Center, I helped welcome an immigrant family from a shelter who had recently arrived in the United States. Coming to...
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Miss A asked me. She was my second grade teacher, and I was one of twenty three students. Bright-eyed and cheerful, we had no real concept of money, time, or reality. As such, we could do nothing other than dream (and dream...
The Value of Good Ideas

The Value of Good Ideas

Coming into the Karel Fellowship this summer, I was very excited but also curious about the skills I would learn. After all, communications is my major and I had been taught the world of strategic communications by a pioneer in the field. I thought to myself, “What...
Open Up Your Aperture

Open Up Your Aperture

My time as a Karel Fellow has been eye-opening. Things started quickly, and I was immediately thrown into the fire as soon I arrived at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In my first week, I sat on calls with organizations that routinely make national headlines. I...