This is an especially hard one to write because you are writing about your own experiences. I am open to any and all feedback, and appreciate you taking the time to help me. Thank you so much!
Peace Corps Volunteers must be open to ideas and cultures different from their own and may need to modify their appearance or behavior appropriately. Give an example (between 250-500 words) of a significant experience that illustrates your ability to adapt in an unfamiliar environment. Please highlight the skills you used and the perspectives you gained. You may draw from experiences in your work, school, or community in the U.S. or abroad. Please list the date(s) of your experience.
While receiving my college degree on stage last June, I was overwhelmed with a dichotomy of emotions. I was proud of my accomplishments, and felt ready to take on new challenges. On the other hand, my limited scale of experience left much to be desired. A graduate in Communication and Diversity in Higher Education, I had worked in non-profit settings, and served two consecutive terms as the Western Washington University Associated Students Vice President for Diversity. Though I was confident in my cultural competency, I wanted the opportunity to challenge myself in an unfamiliar environment. In November 2009, I said goodbye to my friends and family, and relocated to Boston, MA.
With no job, no social network, or even familiarity with the area, I was definitely a fish out of water. By March 2010, I got a job at Fenway Health, the largest LGBT community health center in the country. As a Staff Assistant for The Fenway Institute, the HIV/AIDS prevention research division, I worked directly with participants in a behavioral and clinical research setting. Though I was a long time LGBT advocate, this was a definitely new experience for me. Not only did I not have a very high proficiency working with HIV/AIDS positive individuals, but I was in the minority in regard to sexual orientation and gender in the workplace. Of nearly one thousand employees, approximately seventy percent identified as gay, white males. Rather than shy away from the situation, however, I saw it as an opportunity to expand my cultural competency and become a better ally.
I began by educating myself about the origins of the HIV/AIDS prevention, and doing research on those affected. I also spent time familiarizing myself with local LGBT community, as well as the prevalent challenges they faced, by socializing with my co-workers and assisted with research participant outreach at local gay bars and nightclubs. The more I learned, the more confident I felt in my ability to assist in making Fenway Health a safe space. Over time, my interactions with patients and research study participants evolved into caring and trusting relationships. I even got the opportunity to mentor José, a youth in the LGBT community, as he began his journey through the hormone therapy process. My relationships with co-workers also began to blossom, and I was affectionately embraced as a member of the "Fenway Family."
Moving to Boston proved to be an invaluable experience for me. By becoming more knowledgeable and looking at the world through the eyes of others, I was able to shift my perspective and adapt to a new environment. As a Peace Corps volunteer, I will bring this positive approach with me wherever I may go.
Peace Corps Volunteers must be open to ideas and cultures different from their own and may need to modify their appearance or behavior appropriately. Give an example (between 250-500 words) of a significant experience that illustrates your ability to adapt in an unfamiliar environment. Please highlight the skills you used and the perspectives you gained. You may draw from experiences in your work, school, or community in the U.S. or abroad. Please list the date(s) of your experience.
While receiving my college degree on stage last June, I was overwhelmed with a dichotomy of emotions. I was proud of my accomplishments, and felt ready to take on new challenges. On the other hand, my limited scale of experience left much to be desired. A graduate in Communication and Diversity in Higher Education, I had worked in non-profit settings, and served two consecutive terms as the Western Washington University Associated Students Vice President for Diversity. Though I was confident in my cultural competency, I wanted the opportunity to challenge myself in an unfamiliar environment. In November 2009, I said goodbye to my friends and family, and relocated to Boston, MA.
With no job, no social network, or even familiarity with the area, I was definitely a fish out of water. By March 2010, I got a job at Fenway Health, the largest LGBT community health center in the country. As a Staff Assistant for The Fenway Institute, the HIV/AIDS prevention research division, I worked directly with participants in a behavioral and clinical research setting. Though I was a long time LGBT advocate, this was a definitely new experience for me. Not only did I not have a very high proficiency working with HIV/AIDS positive individuals, but I was in the minority in regard to sexual orientation and gender in the workplace. Of nearly one thousand employees, approximately seventy percent identified as gay, white males. Rather than shy away from the situation, however, I saw it as an opportunity to expand my cultural competency and become a better ally.
I began by educating myself about the origins of the HIV/AIDS prevention, and doing research on those affected. I also spent time familiarizing myself with local LGBT community, as well as the prevalent challenges they faced, by socializing with my co-workers and assisted with research participant outreach at local gay bars and nightclubs. The more I learned, the more confident I felt in my ability to assist in making Fenway Health a safe space. Over time, my interactions with patients and research study participants evolved into caring and trusting relationships. I even got the opportunity to mentor José, a youth in the LGBT community, as he began his journey through the hormone therapy process. My relationships with co-workers also began to blossom, and I was affectionately embraced as a member of the "Fenway Family."
Moving to Boston proved to be an invaluable experience for me. By becoming more knowledgeable and looking at the world through the eyes of others, I was able to shift my perspective and adapt to a new environment. As a Peace Corps volunteer, I will bring this positive approach with me wherever I may go.