Naima Fatehi (Algeria, Fall 2025): Carrying Purpose Across Borders
After an incredibly crowded and demanding year, I finally allowed myself to pause and take a vacation in Saudi Arabia. I was resting, both mentally and emotionally, when the message arrived. I had been accepted into the PFP program. I read it more than once, unsure whether to believe it. My feelings were mixed in a way that surprised me. There was deep happiness for being selected, paired with a quiet fear that this might not be real after all. I did not celebrate right away. I simply sat with the moment, suspended between gratitude and disbelief.
Coming from southwest Algeria, where my work sits at the intersection of science, agriculture, and community service, I carry both responsibility and hope. I feel responsibility to serve, and hope to create meaningful social impact beyond my own career. Before this journey, I wanted my work to matter not only in reports or institutions, but in real lives, especially within my community. I believed this opportunity could help me grow, not only professionally but also as a person capable of translating experience, learning, and connection into lasting change.
Stepping into the United States for the first time, I arrived in Pittsburgh, a city that immediately surprised me. What I found was not the image I had carried in my mind, but something far warmer. It was a city of diversity, kindness, and quiet beauty. The air felt fresh, the people were genuinely welcoming, and the rhythm of the city was calm yet full of positive energy. From the very first moments, I felt an unexpected sense of belonging, as if this place was gently telling me that I was welcome here.
The real shift happened when I stepped into my host placement at Phipps Conservatory. From the first moment, it felt like a haven on earth, a place where every sense worked in harmony. The light, the greenery, and the silence mixed with life made everything feel intentionally alive. Working there was an exceptional experience that brought out parts of me I did not know I could access. I found myself doing things I once thought were beyond my abilities, not because I was pushed, but because the environment itself encouraged the best in me. It reminded me that when you are truly supported, you grow naturally into your potential.
This experience changed the way I see myself and my work. I returned with stronger skills, greater confidence, and a clearer vision of what I am capable of achieving. More importantly, my mindset shifted. I now see growth as something that happens best through collaboration, trust, and purpose driven spaces. I realized that growth is not about pushing harder, but about being placed where you can flourish. What grew strongest in me was a deeper sense of responsibility toward community and sustainability. Professionally and personally, I feel more grounded, more intentional, and more committed to creating impact that lasts. I now understand that impact becomes meaningful when personal growth turns into collective responsibility.
This journey does not end in the United States. It continues in the way I work, the choices I make, and the purpose I carry forward. Through Legacy, I experienced what it means to be supported as a whole person, professionally, personally, and humanly. That experience now shapes the legacy I am committed to building in my community and beyond.
Click here to see what Phipps Conservatory reported about Naima’s experience