My Peace Corps Application

I first applied in August 2005 and had my interview at Boston College in September. For anyone thinking about applying, the application process itself and the interview were great exercises to gauge my personal interest in joining the Peace Corps.

After the nomination, it was waiting time. Getting together my medical information proved the biggest challenge, mainly because I had medical information in both California and Boston. When I finally got my invitation to go to Senegal, the year deadline for most of my medical information had passed, meaning I have had to re-do some of my health checks.

Personally, reading back over my short motivation and cultural experiences essays has been therapeutic as I prepare to depart. It's a good reminder that I didn't just apply on a whim, but rather, it is something I have looked forward to for awhile, and something that I have thought about for some time.

My application essays....
MOTIVATION:
Service has always been a part of my life. I raised Guide Dogs for the Blind for ten years growing up and volunteered at many community events. In college, I volunteered at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless for a year, working on homeless advocacy. I am returning this year to run Boston College’s volunteer program of approximately 300 students. Since I first learned about it in grade school, Peace Corps has been in the back of my mind as an option after graduation.

My commitment to public service and interest in the world at-large led me to major in International Studies, with a focus in Political Science. I am also minoring in Faith, Peace, and Justice, an inter-disciplinary program with an emphasis on development studies. Last year, I studied abroad in South Africa, which was an incredible experience. I decided before going that my experience would help me to decide whether or not to apply for the Peace Corps when I returned home. Could I make it in another country for so long? I was hoping that my six months would be a good indicator. Would I fare well being so far away, in such a different culture?

My initial results were mixed. I missed the comforts of home, the accessibility to my family and friends, and my general lifestyle. However, after visiting Mozambique, an even more different experience, and then returning home, I have not gone a day without thinking of how I can make a difference, and perhaps even more importantly, how I can learn more and become more engaged in “worlds” outside my own. The Peace Corps seems to be the perfect opportunity. I have considered applying for a Fulbright, but have decided that I want to work hands-on, seeking to make a difference and really getting involved as a part of a community. I don't want to merely "study"—I want to partake and learn through action.

I have encountered many people who have volunteered with the Peace Corps during my summer internship at the State Department; their recommendations as the "best job experience" pushed me towards actually submitting my application. After the Peace Corps, I plan on continuing my education in a Master's program, most likely studying international development or broader international studies. My ultimate career goal is to work on development issues with the U.S. government, international institutions, or non-profits. The Peace Corps seems like the perfect opportunity for me to have actual, productive job experience, before heading back into the theoretical world of academia, and finally into the “field”. I am very excited about the opportunity to go abroad again, to really challenge myself and create a solid foundation for my career and life.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE:
From February to June 2005, I had the opportunity to study at the University of Cape Town. During that time, I was able to take a trip to Mozambique, driving from Johannesburg to Maputo, then up the coast to Inhambane. Although South Africa was different from "home," there were definite similarities in the lifestyles of my South African friends and their thoughts on the world, etc. However, Mozambique was an experience unlike no other, for me. Besides the language barrier, I felt transported to a different "world," one in which I had only heard about, sometimes, but rarely seen on the news. Arriving at the hostel at Tofo beach, it was obvious we were outsiders, no doubt tourists. At first, this made me pretty uncomfortable. I did not want to be looked at differently, to be treated differently because of the color of my skin, what I was wearing, or how much money I had. However, I soon realized that that is the way the community works. In South Africa, I could hide my differences, try to speak in a South African accent, and "fit in." Here, I realized that "fitting in" was both impossible, and not actually helpful. By capitalizing on my "differences," I engaged in very interesting conversations with a group of young people hanging out on the beach. They told me about what they do, where they live, their families. I told them the same. We asked questions, talked about our differences, then put it all aside and played soccer before it got dark.

I drove into Mozambique feeling guilty for being 21 years old, with a backpack full of possessions in a new rented car, traveling for nothing more than my own amusement and curiosity. I left Mozambique appreciating what I have, but brainstorming ways that I could help provide others with the same opportunities. My short trip taught me about Mozambique, the impact of its previous political struggles on life today, and the lifestyles of its people, especially those living near the ocean. It also taught me a lot about myself, especially what I value most and how to communicate with others of not only a different language, but also a different frame of mind.