Undergraduate / One of reasons I want to join the Peace Corps is quite selfish - I want to be changed by the world. [7]

Hey Guys and gals,
I'm applying to the Peace Corps and I'm wondering what you guys think of my essay. I tried to be totally honest instead of just flowery. Let me know.

Here's the assignment:

Here's the essay.

One of the reasons I want to join the Peace Corps is quite selfish, to be honest. I want to be changed by the world.

Someone once said that "If you don't get lost, there's no way you can be found." While occasionally I purposely get lost geographically to explore, what I mean in this case is that in order to find myself, in order to be all that I can be-I have to be challenged.

When I moved to the United States, I had the challenge of finding myself. I was forced to stabilize myself on foreign, shaky ground. Through hard work, patience, understanding, passion, and drive... (did I mention patience?) I was able to overcome the obstacles in front of me. But, I didn't only survive-I lived. I was stuck in a situation was nearly unbearable, and I was lucky enough to come out of it a more experienced person.

In hindsight, one the greatest lessons I learned, was that I hold the power to make myself happy by loving what I do and who I am.

I also learned that there is no such thing as absolute truth. The fact of the matter is that we all see things very differently (and not just culturally), we interpret the 'facts' differently and we feel differently. I learned that one of my purposes to accept-and embrace-- the diversity of ideas, of race, of beliefs, and yes, even of fashion sense!

Leo Tolstoy expressed another thing I have learned quite perfectly "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." The sometimes unfortunate reality is that only thing we can control is ourselves, only we can be the change we wish to see, as Mahatma Ghandi would say.

And if they help others, these things and many more, I'd like to teach. I know that I am not done learning about life, the universe and everything, so I want to learn more, to experience more about peace, about life, and about the world.

So instead of continuing to search for the perfect answer that would eloquently and exquisitely inspire you in the same way that I am inspired, I will say that the reason I want to be a Peace Corps volunteer is quite simple.

I'm sorry to say that there are no flashing lights, there is no Hollywood-esque climatic moment. The Peace Corps mission is one that fully aligns with my belief that accepting and embracing differences at home and abroad is a way to peace, and that it is fully achievable if we have the patience it requires.

As for the challenges that my ambition to help as a Peace Corps volunteer will present to me, I think that the 10 Core Expectations could be difficult at different stages of my assignment. However, while they might be challenging, it certainly won't mean that I won't be able to overcome the challenges.

I'm ready to get lost, to jump without a net, and to help however I can while I am at it. I'm ready to become a volunteer and dedicate my life to it.