Caelynn Petersilie Fellowship Update

To say this past summer (2025) was easy would be a lie, but it had to have been the most challenging and fun one I have ever had. Being able to spend my time intellectually growing in a capacity outside of my norm was a wake-up call that really opened my eyes up to the real world and my next steps in life. The college classes I took will be a huge part of my journey in life, as it allows me to get my Liberal Arts Associate’s degree by the spring of 2026. 

Through my Trailblazer Fellowship Grant, I was able to do three online courses over the summer from my local community college to work towards my degree. I genuinely thought I was crazy wanting to do school during the summer, let alone three classes compressed into 5 weeks of schooling. That being said, I do not regret a single second of the experience. One of the great things that this experience provided for me was learning how to balance everything, as I have all of those classes and an internship on top of it. I found out how to use every second of my day to the maximum, allowing me to work on time management, which is something that I have always struggled with. With that experience, this school year has felt so much easier, allowing me to enjoy my last year of high school. 

Another thing that this adventure granted me was the ability to experience school and explore who I am as a person outside of high school. This was completely eye-opening to say the least. I found that being able to learn who I am outside of that environment had not only impacted me as a person but had been a guiding influence in my journey searching for colleges. My interests, priorities, and dreams are completely different when I am away from my stereotypical environment, and that gave me room to grow and accept that I am graduating and become genuinely excited for my next step in life. 

Without this grant experience, I feel that I would be completely lost on my journey through life now. ABF has given me the chance to become more of the person I want to be in life and has allowed me to experience what life is like outside of my norm, and I will forever be grateful for the change it has instilled in me.