Just Do It

In the spirit of the newly opened Year 5 application, I wanted to offer some unsolicited advice to all those would-be, should-be applicants out there. Just, apply. Seriously. You can always turn the opportunity down in favor of some other endeavor that pulls at your heartstrings, but you can’t bring it back once you’ve waved it goodbye.

When I found out about Challenge Detroit, it was a week before the first deadline. My week was swamped. I had over-committed myself in so many ways that I had already mentally prepared myself the week ahead for seven days of great exhaustion and little rest. But, then there was this opportunity that seemed too right to be true. A program that combines community giving with professional work experience and leadership development? Usually, you either have to choose or have to wait in order to do all of those things concurrently. Not so, in Challenge Detroit. This fellowship builds all of those possibilities into a single year. The only trick is to say “yes.”

So, say yes! And apply. The first phase doesn’t require an unseemly amount of commitment. You just have to do it. Don’t procrastinate. But if you do, know that many of us in Year 4 gave our pitch at the eleventh hour and have few, if any, regrets.