 I decided to apply to New America to be a fellow because I have always been so impressed with what prior fellows have done, taking their ideas, making it into a project, and then making that project have a long life afterward. I applied to become a New America National Fellow in order to find a community of scholars and thinkers and journalists who are doing interesting work, who I can exchange ideas with. Writing a book can get pretty lonely when you don't have peers to be social with and to engage with and to share ideas with, and the New America Fellowship seemed like an amazing opportunity to have that kind of community. So having the chance to work with other writers, work with professionals who are really passionate about this kind of work was very enticing to me. I really wanted to be a part of the New America community. I learned so much from other people and from conversation. To be surrounded by some of the greatest minds in journalism and filmmaking and storytelling at large, I could fill up my tank with their energy. I could take their insights into my own reporting and also maybe even network with folks who can help me tell a better story. I need to be pushed. I need to work with brilliant people who are going to challenge me, question me, make sure that I do the best possible version of my work. I really love the work that New America supported and I want to be part of this community. I can learn from other thinkers to be a better storyteller and really to form a better understanding of the world we live in.