The Peace Corps - Life is calling...How far will you go?

When I walked into class on Thursday to find out that there would be a representative of the Peace Corps speaking to us and sharing his experiences I was more than thrilled.  I have always been interested in joining the peace corps but feel as though I want to hear about as many experiences from as many volunteers as I can before I could ever take the plunge and actually join.

Along with doing my research on the Peace Corps website, I have also checked the Peace Corps out through the career fair and now, after hearing Travis speak of his experience I feel as though I am that much closer to being informed to the point where I actually feel confident that the Peace Corps could be an amazing opportunity for me.  The only thing that is really holding me back is the time commitment of volunteering for 27 months.

My whole journey of being interested in the Peace Corps began when I saw the movie Blood Diamond.  That movie inspired me to take a class in school called "African studies: current problems and prospects in Africa".  The class inspired me to want to volunteer in Africa and ever since I have been very interested in the Peace Corps.

What I enjoyed when hearing Travis speak about his experiences was hearing about what day to day life was like in his Village.  I also really enjoyed him showing us how he would greet someone there and what their culture was like in his particular village.  The language he learned there was so impressive and it was inspiring to hear him speak it.  

Though volunteering for the Peace Corps is a long committment I think it could be very personally rewarding and life changing. Not to mention your making a difference in the world and helping humans, which is absolutely amazing.  I think overall it would be an unforgettable experience.  When I talk about joining the Peace Corps my friends and family look at me like I am crazy but I think if your open-minded enough, you can understand and appreciate why someone would volunteer. 

I think ultimately it takes someone who really has the drive to help humans, along with the independence to leave home for two years and to do something all alone.  Not everyone can do this, but the few who can join the Peace Corps get to be as close to another culture as anyone can get. I really hope that I am one of those people and that I could find the strength and independence to join and to fulfill this dream of mine.

Some of the benefits as Travis discussed with our class is that while volunteering you receive full medical and dental insurance, you get your tickets there and back paid for, you have a housing allowance to purchase furniture or (depending on where your sent) to put a down payment on an apartment.  You also get a living allowance but this could be a small amount as you are expected to live at the standards of the culture and therefore you must budget properly.  After your service, you receive $6,000 to get settled back in the states.  In addition your student loans may be deferred until you get back. 

When researching the website I learned everything from what the peace corps is, who can apply, what exactly a volunteer does, where a volunteer goes, what the benefits are to joining, what some the safety measures are...etc.  It also explains the history of the Peace Corps and how it all got started at Michigan State University in 1960, when senator John. F Kennedy challenged the students "serve their country in the cause of peace by working and living in developing countries."  You can also find local events where recruiters may be coming to your area and finally, you can start your application through peacecorps.com.

With learning everything i did through the website and after hearing Travis speak I plan to actually start my application this summer.  It does not mean I will definitely go but at least if I decide I would like to go I will have the option to do so.  I think everyone who hopes to help make a difference in the world should consider the option.