Thank You For Being Such A Vital Part Of Our Team, Bridgette Fehr. We Look Forward To Sharing More About You So Others Can Get To Know You Better!
Tell us a bit about your backstory and what led you down your current life path.
I have always loved to write. I wrote my first “book” when I was twelve years old. I eventually went to college for a creative writing degree and ended up switching to technical writing when I found out that it was the closest degree I could get to grant writing. I have always wanted a career that I could be proud of, something that inspired passion within me and something that made a difference in the world and its inhabitants. I want to use my skills in writing and my passion to help others to make a difference in the nonprofit world.
What or who inspired you to pursue your major/career?
My mother always said that while many argue nurture is stronger than nature, she disagrees because of me. My love of animals and deep empathy were things I was born with, not taught. My mother and paternal grandmother filled me with kindness and love, but my soft heart is my own. I have always been a fighter for the “underdog”. I would say that my empathy has always been the pull that inspired me to pursue a career in nonprofit.
What is one thing you are proud of achieving in your life?
I am proud of the incredible, profound relationships that I have built and continue to foster throughout my life. I believe in the power of connections, and I take my role as daughter/sister/friend/partner/etc. very seriously. I surround myself with people who love me the way that I love them, and it took many years of personal growth to get where I’m at. I am truly blessed to have such connections and to understand that all relationships, no matter the source, require work and dedication. Grass is greener where you water it.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
My “success” is built on hard work and dedication, as I’ve always done things on my own without many connections or advantages. However, my mother is the true source of my independence. A single mom who raised two daughters, she taught me invaluable lessons from her struggles and always believed in me, especially when I doubted myself. Her guidance gave me the soft skills that have been key to my success, even though my definition of success may differ from others.
Why did you choose to be an intern for Educate. Radiate. Elevate.?
I love education because it’s essential to personal and societal progress. A person’s education can shape their life and decision-making, impacting both their world and the broader community. Everyone, regardless of background, deserves access to quality education, but not all children receive that opportunity. I want to help change that and contribute to creating equal chances for success.
What about the Educate. Radiate. Elevate.’s Purpose, Mission, and Core Values speaks most to you and why?
I think the purpose, mission, and core values of E.R.E. are all honorable and well-intentioned. If I have to choose something specific, I really appreciate that E.R.E. takes a holistic approach to education. I think it’s important that we understand that there are many variables and factors to a child’s learning, especially when they may be struggling at home with various things. I think a lot of that is changing, in some places, but many education systems lack the resources to help those kids. I appreciate that E.R.E. looks to fill in those gaps, especially for marginalized groups who often get left behind.
What do you like to do in your free time?
While it’s not something I get to do often, because of time and expense, I love to travel. I truly enjoy everything about traveling – the food, architecture, scenery, but most of all, I love to experience new cultures and meet new people outside of my own country. There is something truly humbling and grounding about experiencing other parts of the world, especially when you approach it with curiosity and a desire to understand. One of my biggest challenges with traveling, however, is finding someone to travel with. I prefer to share experiences with people.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? What is it and why did it resonate with you?
There is one book that I have almost “forced” on other people because it changed me so profoundly. Awakening Joy changed my life in the most positive ways. It has a wonderful message about learning how to be happy, with the idea of looking for joy in small moments. It’s not always easy to “choose joy”, but it’s possible. It was also really helpful in understanding what it really meant to love without “attachment” and changed my view on certain aspects of the idea. I had a copy for a long time that I used to give out to people who I thought might benefit from it.
The road to success is difficult and requires tremendous dedication. What advice would you give to a young person who aspires to follow in your footsteps and emulate your success?
It’s essentially a bulleted list: Don’t panic/procrastinate, Get an internship in college, Start networking asap, Believe in yourself. One of the most difficult things I had to overcome was imposter syndrome. I still struggle with it sometimes and I’ve likely missed many opportunities just because I didn’t believe in myself enough to even try. I also think that success looks different for everyone. So, of course, the steps to take will also look different for others.
Please share your favorite life lesson quote. How is it relevant to your life?
“Love is all you need”. They’re lyrics, rather than a traditional quote, but I stand by it. I believe that nearly all of the world’s problems could be solved if people just loved more. If everyone “loved” everyone else, in the sense that we all have empathy and care more for others, we could solve poverty, world hunger, most diseases, and more. Greed cannot exist in the same space as love, and so much suffering is caused by others’ greed or indifference. It’s incredibly idealistic, and it obviously wouldn’t solve everything, but it would definitely be a different world.
