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"My professional experiences vary a lot" - Peace Corps Acceptance Essay #1



ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 14, 2010   #1

Traveling and My Experiences



Peace Corps Essay #1

I am 48 years old. I live in America and have had the privilege of enjoying a varied and full life. I even served in the US Military and yet, the United States Peace Corps service was literally undefined to me until just recently in my life. All of my life that I can remember, I have wanted to help other people, give back to my many communities, volunteer for anything and everything, and just do good things that other people might notice or be advantaged by. Yet in looking back on my life, I find that I have not nearly fulfilled that desire to the extent that I wanted to.

I have now come to a time in my life where I strongly feel there is a window of opportunity being presented to me that could allow me to not only accomplish those desires, but also to be able to do it in an organized fashion that could result in other people truly benefitting from my contributions. The Peace Corps is an organization with the structure and resources to assist me in accomplishing my goals. Learning about the function and purpose of the Peace Corps has spurred my motivation to take advantage of that window of opportunity.

My past experiences in life have been many. I have traveled extensively, lived abroad, attended exceptional schools, dedicated time to uncommon hobbies, and participated in many activities that have all cumulatively created the persona I now am.

My experiences vary from Bee Keeping, Gardening, Pig Farming, Folk Dancing, Theatre and Woodworking in my early school years, to Pottery, Drumming, Fishing and Flying in my later years. Along with this is an education in Electrical, Plumbing and Construction trades, and a Military and University education in Computers. I have traveled to over 20 countries on multiple occasions with extended stays in both Spain and Mexico. A University Degree in Computer Engineering and 20 years of Computer, Finance and Small Business Administration round out my professional life, and most recently, I have found the time and desire to tutor English to Adults in my community.

These past experiences and the current sudden availability of time and resources to me, has increased my desire to fulfill my hopes of helping others.

I am ready for a life change. I am also ready to help potentially provide a life change for someone else. I have no grand illusions about changing the world or even really changing any one persons' life significantly. However, I do know that being part of an ongoing initiative, where everyone involved is there for the same purpose, can make a significant difference.

If I am accepted in the Peace Corps, the single most difficult issue I will face is the practical preparation for the departure. Any significant change in life can always be accomplished better with preparation and forethought. I have already begun examining the arrangements that are going to be needed for such issues as lease termination, business requirements replacements, payables and receivables handling, and storage for personal goods. I also am formulating a plan for when I return; doing my best to leave open options for the hopeful possibility of an extended stay with the Peace Corps, if that should be my destiny. My preparation plans will firm up and become much more forefront, once an acceptance is obtained, but with the proper planning and timing, I am comfortable that it can all be handled in a smooth and sensible way.

One of my life goals is to be able to look back and be satisfied that I participated in volunteer programs and other actions that hopefully have made an actual positive difference in some other, less privileged part of our world. I want to be proud to be a part of the type of people who don't spend their life just dreaming of this, but actually make it happen.

I feel strongly that I can bring a substantial contribution to the table. I am generally flexible and can easily adapt to most any environment. I enjoy the dynamics of working with others and always respect the fact that there are always other valid perspectives. I find deflection a better defense than absorption, and conflict, in general, is not part of my lifestyle. I tend to listen more than speak, and "do" more than "talk about" doing. I am persistent and will avoid undertaking a project where I don't anticipate a satisfactory conclusion.

As a private pilot and a business manager, I have developed a permanent sense of responsibility for those around and involved with me. Protecting and observing everyone's best interest is my nature. Doing so within the restrictions and limitations of my current environment is something I am always aware of. Being proud to be an American and a US Citizen is something I will constantly justify. And yet, while I feel privileged to be from the United States, I am also aware that others feel the same about their own countries and origins. Therefore I will always proudly represent my country and yet remain flexible and accepting of others cultures and ideologies.

Throughout my travels abroad, there have been many things that I have learned. However, one lesson stands out more so than any other: the fact that so many Americans have never left the United States, or have only been exposed to the more modern and Westernized world outside the US. There is an endless amount of culture and wonderment beyond our borders that I have just begun to scratch the surface of. I wish to share my experiences, excitements and adventurous stories with every American with whom I have the occasion, in the hopes that they too, may be inspired and more open minded about the cultures of the rest of the world.

EF_Susan - / 2310  
Jan 15, 2010   #2
You are such a good writer, and your first paragraph grabs the readers attention and says it all, what kind of person you are.

The Peace Corps is an organization with the structure and resources to assist me in accomplishing my goals.

Learning about the function and purpose...I think you should attach this sentence to the above paragraph.

My past experiences in life have been many. I have traveled extensively, lived abroad...

I have traveled to over 20 countries on multiple occasions...

Therefore I will always proudly represent my country and yet remain flexible and accepting of others cultures and ideologies.

Throughout my many travels abroad, there have been many things that I have learned. However, one lesson stands out more so than any other. That is the fact that so many...

Which of the Peace Corps expectations do you find most challenging, and how do you plan to overcome this challenge?
Your essay is just about perfect. I think they might not only accept you, but give you a job at the head of the organization. You sound perfect for them. Good luck! The world needs way more people like you!
OP ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 18, 2010   #3
Susan, Thank you for the prompt reply and the very nice compliments. I tried very hard on the essay and your comments really made me feel good and even more confident.

I incorporated all the changes you suggested and I think that first essay is shortly ready for submission. I added a very specific address of the question you reiterated about the "challenging expectations". If you would like to see or critique the "final" draft I would be happy to repost it. I undersand you are probably as busy as can be, so I wont do that unless requested.

I do have the second essay ready for review and I was wondering if you wouldnt mind reviewing that one too? Of course it responds to a different premise than the first one did.

If you can let me know that would be very helpfull. My regular email is Jmark@unifiedbarcode.com, but I will also check back here in a couple days too.

Thanks again for your time and your very nice coments and corrections!

JM
EF_Susan - / 2310  
Jan 18, 2010   #4
Hi! You can post your revised essay here, but be sure to start a new thread for a different one. I'll be on the lookout for anything you write, but there's a chance that someone else might get to it first. But yes, do post the final draft here!

;^)
OP ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 18, 2010   #5
Susan, Here is what I hope to be my final version of my first Essay. I will also post my second Essay starting a new thread shortly. I sure appreciate your time and review comments! Thanks again! jm
OP ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 18, 2010   #6
Susan, I went to start a new thread and got a message saying that I must first comment significantly on two other essays before I am allowed to post my 2nd post. I went to an Unanswered post and copied it to my Word editor and spent a good hour and a half offering my perspective, and when I went to post it, I was told the thread had been deleted or some other reaon I could not post it! Uuughh! Not sure what to do. I could not find the Essay I was editing in the Search Bar. It was about an Asian who wanted to be a member of the House of Representatives.

Is it true that I have to edit two other essays before I can post another one? Im now a bit gun shy about doing it as thoroughly as the one I just did. Any comments? Thanks! jm
Envie 4 / 60  
Jan 18, 2010   #7
I don't think you need to go TOO thorough.

I would just do it on the forum itself just in case what happened to you happened again. I think I remember the essay you were talking about. Did it start off talking about spiderman/or superman? That might have been a completely different essay
OP ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 18, 2010   #8
YES! That was the one! I think I may have offered some decent thoughts that the person could use. I saved my work, so if you can somehow get me to that persons' thread, I would love to post the work I did. Its no masterpiece, but Im sure they would like the feedback.

If you can find that one, I will be glad to try another one and then be able to post a 2nd one of my own!

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me personally. Im sure this work keeps you very busy! :)

JM
EF_Kevin 8 / 13053  
Jan 19, 2010   #9
I don't know what happened to the essay you were editing; sorry that happened to you! If you have the username of the person who wrote the essay you can search for that user and try to find a page like this one: ?action=userinfo&user=17371

And yes, please go help some people with their essays so that the system will let you start a new thread. It doesn't have to take more than a few minutes to tell them what impression the essay made on you and to type any suggestions that come to mind.

:-)
OP ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 19, 2010   #10
Susan, I just posted a second essay. If you have the time to critique it, I would sure appreciate your comments and time.

Thanks! jm
OP ubr001 2 / 8  
Jan 20, 2010   #11
Thanks for the corrections! That's a great service! JM


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