Undergraduate /
"the perfect time in my life to challenge myself" - Peace Corp Essay [4]
After Graduating from College..
Since high school I've struggled to create a clear path for myself after I graduate college. The difficulty came from deciding how and when to continue my education in psychology while also wanting to travel before diving back into school and pursuing a career. Throughout undergraduate school I became active in contributing to my community through volunteer work. This led me to look into short-term volunteer programs that I could attend after I graduated. After discussing my options in length with my advisors, professors, and especially with friends who were struggling with similar decisions, I began to create my own path that I felt was worth pursuing.
A few experiences I have had recently have started the foundation of my passions and activism. This spring, I made the decision to become a vegetarian since I believe that this is one of the best choices I can make in order to help the environment. I receive many questions on why I've chosen to be a vegetarian and have used this opportunity to educate others on the impact food production has on the environment and the inhumane treatment of animals. These experiences have opened my eyes about how people view the world. When discussing my views on being a vegetarian, many people reply with: "Oh, I could never give up meat." When specifically discussing the inhumane treatment of animals I quite frequently receive the reply: "I just try not to think about it." People seem to make a conscious decision to not allow the things they know is wrong in the world affect them by simply ignoring it. Making a small difference in the world is so simple for many who have the right resources handed to them, they just don't use them. And there is still so much value in simply being kind to one another. As I've become more passionate about my beliefs and the well-being of others, the more I've realized that I find it difficult living a comfortable life without somehow contributing to the well-being of others.
When assessing what I want to achieve after I graduate, the Peace Corp is the perfect conclusion. I expect to gain an invaluable experience, one that will allow me to use the skills and passions I have acquired to make a larger contribution. I want to bring new ideas and experiences to a community and in turn bring home the experiences I acquire in hopes of inspiring others to create change in some way, whether through the comfort of their own community or in a completely new one.
I understand that the Peace Corp is a 24/7 job, and that my conduct at all hours will affect the progress of any work. Also, I know that in order to help others, one needs to provide the correct resources in a way that appeals to specific needs. I'm excited for this challenge: to learn about a community and develop relationships in order to understand how I can best provide for them. As of right now, my biggest challenge is preparing myself to leave my family and friends for two years. Although I feel slight anxiety when thinking about this, I am also excited for this challenge and through the support of my loved ones I know I can face it head on.
Fresh out of graduate school, this will be the perfect time in my life to challenge myself to tear away from the comfort of my home and use the skills and knowledge I have acquired to help others.