Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Application Essays

Peace Corps applicants have to write two essays to submit along with their application, one concerning their reasons for wanting to be in the Peace Corps and the difficulties they envision themselves having, and  the other about an interaction with a different country or culture. Here are mine. 

Essay One
I have tossed around the idea of Peace Corps service for a few years now. I graduated from college in May 2010, and, since then, I have been seriously thinking about the direction I want my life to take. There is one thing I know for sure: I want to be in a place where I am making a difference and helping others. I want to be a part of the Peace Corps because of the organization's ideals, reputations, and spirit of doing the most possible good in areas all over the world. Being just one person, I know that I alone cannot change the world, but I truly believe that if I can make a difference in the lives of a group of people, they can in turn help themselves and others who are in situations similar to theirs. That, I believe, is a huge step toward the betterment of humanity and improvement of the world in which we live. The Peace Corps will assist me in better developing the skills I will need to effectively serve a community of people in need, both in my time abroad and after I return to America.

My reasons behind my desire to be part of the Peace Corps are directly related to many of the same aspirations I have for my future and are all sparked by experiences in my past. While studying abroad in France, I gained an entirely new perspective on people and on the world. I have had a desire to learn and to experience even more since I returned to the United States. Not only do I want to serve community to improve it, I want to learn and grow in my experience and service as much as the people and place I am serving do. Serving, living, and growing in a community and a culture different from my own is something I desire, not only for the experience, but for the knowledge I would gain from doing so. I want to be a Peace Corps Volunteer in order to pair my desires to live and to learn in a new culture with my desires to help and to love humanity, so I can do the most possible good.

I plan to meet the core expectations by being patient with myself and with those I am working both with and for. I believe patience is a necessity when integrating oneself into new surroundings and is essential when working with others to implement change, development, and progress. I would also aim to make myself extremely personable and compassionate toward the people I would serve. I would work hard to build trusting relationships so that I may be as approachable and as helpful as possible. Though I know at times I would struggle with Core Expectation 3, “...under the conditions of hardship, if necessary...,” I know that I would be able to overcome the struggle by reminding myself of all the reasons I wanted to join the Peace Corps. Life as a volunteer will be different from life in America, and the distance from friends and family will be difficult at times, but I am prepared to face that struggle. I know that by being patient with myself, maintaining my sense of humor, and integrating into my new surroundings, I will not only create a home away from the one I have in the U.S., but I will help my community to maintain change and progress even after my service is over.

Essay Two
A few weeks into my first semester of college, I was introduced to one of Southern Miss's study abroad programs. I decided I was going to take advantage of the opportunity to live and to learn in a tiny village in France for a semester. The day finally arrived and my plane landed in Paris. Before I had time to think about what I had done and the commitment I had made, I was thrown into a whirlwind of culture shock. I quickly realized just how far away I was from Mississippi. I was instantly overwhelmed by my surroundings. A few deep breaths later, I began to ask for assistance and to find my way around the airport to meet up with other students.

I lived in the tiny village of Pontlevoy, France, and, unlike the big city of Paris, people here did not speak English. And while I lived with other American students and professors, the challenges that awaited me outside my room could not be avoided—well, not if I wanted food and fresh air. I quickly learned that the best way to experience and learn is by doing and trying new things. The only other option was to hop back on a plane headed for America, and to me, this was not an option.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was one of finding and maintaining confidence in myself and my abilities while trying to integrate into a society different from the only one I had ever known. I was so nervous the first time I spoke French in France to an actual French person, and not inside the classroom to the American professor; however, this was essential for my traveling and eating throughout France. I had to not only have confidence in myself, but I also had to have trust in the people I asked for directions, instructions, explanations, and Diet Coke. Throughout my time in France there were many misunderstandings because of language barriers and general lifestyle differences, but with trust, a sense of humor, and a willingness to learn and try new things, my time in France was enriched.

I was only eighteen when I moved there, so I grew up a lot in my time in France. I learned how to break down the barriers of my own comfort zone in order to experience new things. I learned that integrating oneself into a new environment and culture can be as simple as trying a new food dish, or as extensive as drowning one's life in a language, lifestyle, and surrounding unlike what they would experience in their home country and in their comfort zone. I prefer the latter of the two. I discovered the things I grew to love about France were all the things I would not have experienced had I not made the decision to dive into a world previously unknown to me.

Through my study abroad experience, as well as living and traveling in a world until that time unknown to me, I learned to be brave and confident in myself and my abilities. And while the service I would perform while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer is quite different than the experiences I had living and traveling in Western Europe, the lessons I have learned about myself and about life have instilled in me a longing for new experiences and have equipped me with the ability to step outside of what is familiar in order to better serve and love humanity, regardless of culture, language, or beliefs. My experience living in a foreign country has left me with a desire to step out into the world with a great hope that I might find new experiences in order to not only enrich my own life and mind, but that I may be able to enrich the world around me and make it a better place simply by being a part of it because of the lessons I have learned.  

Thursday, January 20, 2011

My Peace Corps Timeline

2010
August 26- Submitted PC application
August 31- Received email from recruiter
September 6- Received legal packet in the mail
September 7- Received call from Recruiter, submitted additional skill information, had fingerprints made
September 8- Mailed legal packet to D.C.
September 14- Received email from Recruiter and set interview date
September 23- Interview with Recruiter at Peace Corps Southeast Regional Headquarters in Atlanta, GA
September 24- Nominated for Peace Corps service
October 1- Received official nomination in the mail
October 2- Received medical packet
November 1-Mailed medical packet to D.C.
November 25- Toolkit updated: No dental holds
November 30- Notice of medical deferment
December 6- Submitted additional medical information
December 8- Toolkit updated: Medical review complete, wait for answer by mail. Received email from Placement Officer
December 9- Emailed updated resume and detailed volunteer list to Placement Officer
December 10- Received notice of medical clearance

2011
January 5- Received call from Placement Officer, qualified for PC service, given the choice between Youth Development in Eastern Europe or Water/Health Sanitation in Central or South America
January 6- Called Placement Officer with decision: Water/Health Sanitation in Central or South America
January 12- Received invitation in the mail
January 18- Accepted invitation to serve in Suriname

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

real life

I have avoided creating a blog until I found out the final verdict on my Peace Corps application journey, well that and the fact that lately my life has not been a great source of excitement. The verdict is finally in and I could not be more excited. I leave for Suriname on May 3. I cannot believe it. This idea of serving in the Peace Corps is finally becoming a reality after many months of thought and prayer.

I am still in shock of the number of well wishes I have received from my family and friends. It is incredible to know that I have so many people in my life that are excited for me and my endeavors. I am honored and blessed to have been chosen for this opportunity.

"The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity." -Leonard Ravenhill

This is my real life. I have trouble believing that fact.