My reason for wanting to be a Peace Corps volunteer? It’s not in my resume or mission statement. It has always been in my gut.
When people ask me why I’m joining the Peace Corps, I feel inclined to talk about my long-term professional goals. Except it wasn’t future plans that lead me to pursue Peace Corps service, but a combination of my interests and past experiences. I studied anthropology in college. I traveled and interned abroad to Belize and Taiwan – two countries I’d never before considered visiting. I traveled again to Belize for a research internship that took me beyond the typical office experience. I volunteered with organizations serving low-income, immigrant, and refugee communities. I tutored and oriented new students to college. And I met so many interesting, compassionate people along the way.
However, considering all these parts of my life that influenced me to apply to the Peace Corps, above all was the feeling in my gut. Once I began reading blogs, reaching out to PCVs, and researching countries of service, my gut convinced me to take this path. Some PCVs will explain how their Peace Corps service is a component of their conscientiously planned futures. Others, like me, relied on a voice telling them to just “GO.” And now I’m squinting at a big, looming question mark, hoping it will resolve into a solid life plan before those two years pass.
While I envy those who know exactly what they will be doing after their 27 months of service pass, I stand by my “why.” I believe that intuition is a valid reason to pursue something. I do not believe that it is naive to be spontaneous. Over time, I’ve learned that it’s good to dive into transformations and changes headfirst – before the anxieties and “what-ifs” pile too high. But I also feel obligated to dive into anything with a solid foundation in place. I want to know how deep the water is. I want talk to other people who’ve swum in this area before. This is where blogs, recounts from PCVs, and whole lotta self-propelled research come in handy. I feel more or less ready to dive.
Speaking of feeling ready to dive, I just remembered an old swim team ritual from high school. Before every relay race, my teammates and I would huddle in a circle and chant together: “One…two…three…do the damn thing!”
Well, I’m doing the damn thing. Hasta pronto, Panama!
Piece of Panamá 