I imagine many people might ask, "Why in the world would you want to give up everything to move to another country?" So here is my best answer as of yet, and I assume as I go through this process my answer will evolve.
Experience and Learn-I believe that experiential learning has the greatest impact on a person, and the more diverse your learning opportunities the better the outcome. Peace Corps allows volunteers to really indulge in a new culture, its foods, its language, its customs, its business practices, and everything else that comes along with. I truly believe that experiencing a new culture will help me better understand how to live in a global community.
Travel and Explore-There are so many places in this world that I want to explore, and the Peace Corps really offers that opportunity to get out there and see things that so many people never get to see.
Service-While completing my Masters focusing a lot of work on Nonprofit organizations, I was able to really think out what "service" means, knowing that it is something I want to dedicate myself to. Whether in a formal or informal capacity throughout my life. Why not start in a very formal service oriented setting? Peace Corps Core Expectation #2 is: Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work; and, in doing so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed. I love this.
Sustainable Impact-One of the things Peace Corps focuses on is building programs that are sustainable. It's important to integrate into your community and gain support for programs so that your impact is felt long after you are gone. Although there is a lot of rhetoric around whether PC volunteers actually have lasting impact - I believe the PC is building the right kind of attitude and infusing that attitude so deeply into their volunteers to change the outlook of how each volunteer goes about their service. Unlike many other volunteer programs that offer aid, Peace Corps does not try to just lend a helping hand but really get deep into the culture and try to make lasting opportunities for growth.
Build Relationships-Peace Corps offers a forum for camaraderie and team building not only through the volunteers in which you will serve beside but also through the challenge of integrating into a new culture. Almost everyone that I have spoken to has said, the people you meet during your service are people you will never forget.
Be a "Doer" AND a "Thinker"-I never wanted to be a person that stood in the back of a crowd and whispered to myself, "hey, i think that's something i want to do." I'm a go getter, and I don't plan on stopping today or tomorrow. Peace Corps is just step one of all the things I want to do in my life. I plan on putting up a bucket list at some point....hold tight.
So some people might say, "Why?," but I say, "Why Not?"
No comments:
Post a Comment