By Dasha McDonald
Recently, I’ve caught up with some college friends in DC, which is huge considering I met them in Scotland. Each time, I felt the need to point out how weird it is to see them now—not because they can drive or because there are no Glaswegian accents, but because we’re in the real world. The friends I cried over my dissertation with are now making multi-million-dollar deals, consulting for perfume companies, or curating art collections. Meanwhile, I’m juggling seminary, math tutoring, a job, and discipleship as this thing they label a Fellow. Our lives look drastically different than the last time we saw each other.
With every new season, I tend to idealize that I’ll magically change upon arrival—like moving to DC would make me a new person. But alas, I am still the same person I was the day before I got here. We’re warned about the "October Blues," where the novelty of Fellows fades and reality sets in. But frankly, I love this reality. I love my job, my host family, my co-fellows, my Sunday school class, and even my unpredictable schedule (and no, John Kyle did not pay me to write that). What I don’t love is that amid all this goodness, I still struggle with overcommitment, balancing my time, and making decisions. I am still me. It turns out that joining Fellows hasn’t automatically turned me into the full likeness of Christ.
During our Silent Retreat, I spent time in Romans 7–9 and resonated with Paul’s groaning over the disconnect between his desires and reality. I felt overwhelmed (because if Paul can’t do it, I’ve got no shot). Just a few verses later, Romans 8:34 reminded me:
“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (ESV).
The strength of Christ is alive in us and is actively at work. Our 7th-grade girls D-Group has a saying: “Stay weak,” based on 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV. It’s a reminder that recognizing our humanity shows us how much we need a Savior. Jesus loves us enough to powerfully intercede on our behalf. Our sanctification is constant, not an all-at-once, move-cities-and-be-done thing. It requires our surrender over and over again and relies on God’s power—His strength in our weakness and our daily work in response to His grace. What an encouraging truth to rest in and advance from!
Dasha McDonald is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2024-25. She is from Kansas City, MO and is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews. This year, she is working as an Ecclesial Fellow in the Missions ministry at McLean Presbyterian Church.
Pictures From The Week
Enjoying the fall weather between classes
Our Fairfax Fellows after the Chili-cookoff night with some of their kiddos
Virginia with an alpaca at MPS's MomCo Fall Event
French chefs Will and Heather cooking for Commons on Monday.
Fellows study session at Rare Bird Coffee Roasters
Know a Potential Capital Fellow?
If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2025-26, please encourage them to get in touch with us. The easiest way to express interest in the program is through our Contact Us Form. You can learn more about the program, including application deadlines, by visiting the Capital Fellows website.
About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
Thank you for praying for the Capital Fellows each week!
Every Monday night, the Capital Fellows share a meal together (prepared and served by two of their own), worship, and discuss various leadership topics at Capital Commons. This week we began a new discussion series on being "called to serve," in which the Fellows will be wrestling with what it means to joyfully and sacrificially serve in every area of their lives... Please join us in praying that, through their discussions and experiences this year, the Capital Fellows would grow to see service as not just an act, but as a lifestyle and a mindset. And that, ultimately, they would see Jesus as our perfect model of service—loving, sacrificial, planned, intentional, and fruitful.
Want to learn more about Season 18? Click the button below to read through their bios!
About The Fellows Initiative
Capital Fellows is part of a network of similar programs across the country. This network is called The Fellows Initiative. There are 34 Fellows programs in TFI, roughly 3,200 alumni living around the world, and more Fellows programs on the way.
If you know a church in the US or Canada that would benefit from joining TFI by launching a new Fellows program. Please contact TFI by visiting their website.
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