“Challenge Detroit has been an excellent opportunity to learn about the impact of community-led initiatives in Detroit.” – Bella Fernandez
Act of Kindness
Embarking on a new career endeavor can be especially intimidating, and joining Challenge Detroit was no exception. Upon meeting with a few of the host companies and interacting with some of the potential Fellows during the interview process, I was certain I’d have to represent both my character and skills to the best of my ability.
Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I received an offer to join the 2023-2024 cohort. As someone that completed my undergraduate program during the pandemic, I felt that my opportunities to meet new people had been substantially limited. The prospect of having a second chance to build relationships with early-stage career individuals was something that excited me, and I would not be disappointed.
After a particularly stressful week, during which I had the misfortune of missing the first orientation session due to covid, I was thrilled to finally familiarize myself with the program and cohort. I was immediately greeted by friendly faces of the leadership team and Fellows who seemed to be motivated by the same passion for community development and personal growth. My worries about having missed out on first impressions and crucial bonding time soon melted away.
A particular moment which contributed to my appreciation of my placement in this year’s cohort took place on the third week of introductions at Co.act Detroit. Fellows were being seated by name card for the day’s activities, and I had forgotten to return my name card at the previous session. At a randomly selected table, I started to converse with the Fellows seated next to me when I noticed one of them had begun sketching something. A few minutes later, she handed me her very own rendition of my name card, cityscape and all.
It amazed me how such a simple act of kindness could go so far in making someone feel welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you for the name card, Sumer (Hazime)!
ABOUT: My name is Bella Fernandez and I grew up in Dearborn, MI. I graduated from Wayne State University with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Information Systems Management. My host company is Clark Hill where I am a data analyst. I enjoy reading, writing, making art, and spending time in nature.