It is a strange thing to say that a dream came true for me amidst the pandemic. But that is exactly what happened with the Atlas Corps fellowship. After 2 years and 2 rejections, the SAP fellowship came around and turned out to be worth the wait in every way.
My experience with SAP went above and beyond my expectations. From the very first day, I was welcomed into an environment that was warm and kind. In the middle of a pandemic, where the environment is far from stable, SAP created a home for me. When it first began, it took me time to find my feet and comprehend the scale of the opportunity I had been granted. Working with people from different time zones and handling new technology tools was extremely overwhelming. But when I felt like I may fall, I was raised up by the people I am privileged to now call my team.
My supervisor Jen makes me feel blessed every day by being one of the kindest people I have ever come across. Shinjini, a current fellow, has become a lifesaver as has the rest of the Atlas Corps fellow community. Communicating and working across virtual platforms can be quite difficult, and it affected my emotions in a way I did not see coming. From guiding me through the new tools I was working with, to checking up on me when I was low, Shinjini and Jen have been angels. It has proven to me that this opportunity is one of the greatest blessings I have been granted.
I believe that safe spaces are created by the people who make an effort to do so. Being surrounded by such people, I have been able to breathe in a time where I could have felt choked. They have brought out the best in me, even when I was clogged by doubts.
I cannot wait to see what the journey ahead holds for me, and what difference a single individual like me can make in this world. I am filled with this belief now because of the home that this community has created for me.
Thumbnail Photo by Anete Lusina from Pexels
