“Curiosity moves the world.” — Morgan Freeman
This has always been one of my favorite quotes, but after spending this summer in Washington, D.C., as a Frank Karel Fellow, I understand it in a completely different way.
When I arrived in D.C., I knew I was coming for a professional opportunity. What I did not expect was how much this summer would challenge me, introduce me to incredible people, and help me grow both personally and professionally.
One of the greatest parts of this experience has been the people. Developing relationships with the other fellows has been one of the highlights of my summer. Although we came from different backgrounds and experiences, we quickly became a community. We learned from each other, encouraged one another, and created memories that I know I will carry with me long after the fellowship ends.
My experience at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has also given me a new perspective on communications and policy. Before this summer, I understood them as two areas that could work together. Now, I have experienced firsthand how closely they intersect. Policy can identify a problem and create a path toward change, but communications helps people understand why that change matters. Through my work supporting communications and policy initiatives, I have seen how research, messaging, advocacy, and storytelling can come together to move an issue forward.
Visiting the Foundation’s offices in New Jersey and New York made that lesson even more meaningful. I was struck by how welcoming, thoughtful, and caring everyone was. The conversations I had with people across the Foundation reminded me that some of the most valuable learning can happen when you are simply willing to ask questions and listen.
That is where curiosity became more than just a favorite quote to me.
I have learned that curiosity allows us to think differently. It encourages us to challenge our assumptions, understand perspectives beyond our own, and create space for new ideas. As a communicator, I have seen how a thoughtful conversation or meaningful message can change someone’s viewpoint. Sometimes, creating change does not begin with having the perfect answer. Sometimes, it begins with asking the right question.
This summer has pushed me to advance myself in ways I did not anticipate. I have become more confident in professional spaces, strengthened my communication skills, expanded my understanding of policy and advocacy, and developed relationships that I hope will last well beyond this fellowship. Most importantly, I have gained a stronger sense of the kind of communicator I want to become.
When I look back on this summer, I will remember being in Washington, D.C., the people I met, the relationships I developed, the conversations that challenged me, and the opportunities that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I will remember learning that communication is not just about what we say, but about how we listen, understand, and create opportunities for people to see an issue differently.
I came to this fellowship hoping to grow as a communications professional. I am leaving with new relationships, new perspectives, greater confidence, and a renewed sense of curiosity about what comes next.
“Curiosity moves the world.”
This summer, it moved me.