Great Quote

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greather joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."  - Christopher McCandless

Whyyyy

27 months..that’s such a long time!!!! Why would you do that, you’re not even getting paid!!! Why??!?!? These are some of the many questions I have faced since expressing my aspirations to volunteer in the Peace Corps. So, right now, I hope to quell all worries and anxieties with my explanation of why exactly I am doing this thing called the Peace Corps. With that….

How it started…

I don’t really know if I can give a date as to when my state of mind changed. After fall semester of freshman year, I believed I would be a Marketing major. This is why I transferred to the business school, to pursue the wonder which was being a Marketing major. I possessed, and still possess, the gift of creativity. Marketing would allow me to utilize this gift to its fullest extent right? Wellll, possibly it coud have, but this motivation soon turned to an interest in finance. I almost slipped into the accountancy profession (what a scare that would have been). So, I was set on finance. What would my finance major bring me after college? The big bucks of course and the rewards of being an investment banker. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. 100 hour weeks, countless hours in front of a computer screen, CAPM….How are these rewards? They aren’t the rewards, the money is, but can money trump all of these negatives? In my mind, it did not. I think this is where I really started to find out what I truly valued in life. These are indeed pretty profound thoughts here, but what would my blog be without profound thoughts.

So, I was really at a loss for where exactly I would be heading regarding a career path. I knew I liked finance, but not corporate finance. I knew I liked Spanish, which I have been taking since the 8th grade. So, I settled on International Finance. Maybe I did not have such a virtuous approach to international finance as I do now, but that is where my ambitions towards international finance began. My goal was to work at the World Bank and develop programs related to helping countries in Latin America. The only problem with this goal was that I lacked a capacity to speak Spanish fluently. The potential existed, but Spanish courses at GW only do so much for you (which is very little in fact).

I started to research study abroad opportunities and decided studying abroad in Sevilla was my best option, because it allowed me to graduate on time and provided me with a Spanish vocabulary of business terms. Studying abroad was definitely one of the biggest motivators of my decision to volunteer with the Peace Corps. I might not have gotten all the Spanish skills I have long sought after, but I got to meet people of many different cultures and see a whole lot. Studying abroad could have quite possibly been an eye opener. The variety of people types one meets while traveling is quite remarkable and rewarding. It really opened my mind. In addition, living with a Spanish family opened my mind too. I really value the intangibles of my experience abroad, not necessarily the course credit I received.

After Sevilla, I returned to the U.S. pretty satisfied and excited to begin an internship at XM Radio. In fact, the internship was exciting for awhile. I don’t think I’ll ever have the opportunity to work in the entertainment industry again. An experience is an experience and provides you with even more knowledge and outlook. Ironically, one day while sitting at this internship and “working”, I came across an article which spoke about how more and more college grads were joining organizations like Teach America and the Peace Corps. “Peace Corps?!?!?!”, I said. Pretty much the same reaction as I have received when talking to some people about it. I think everyone still has a 70’s Peace Corps image in their heads with just young kids rebelling against society and joining the Peace Corps. However, the PC has evolved greatly.

Why?!?!?!?!

Good question!!! There are so many different reasons and variables that went into this decision. Let’s start with the most important one my desire to help others. Although I don’t have much time to do it in college, over the last year or so I’ve come to realize just how lucky I’ve been growing up. Every opportunity hasn’t been handed to me, but the opportunity existed if I wanted to work for it. Many people do not have this opportunity, whether they are located in the United States or anywhere else in the world. I really would like to utilize my knowledge and experiences to help these people out. It’s something I’m very passionate about. Many of these people would like to work hard and achieve the things we have achieved but just aren’t able to. So, the PC allows me to perform this function. Other organizations perform this function as well, but not like the PC. I believe in the methodology of the PC. Many firms try to create and develop programs in developing countries but aren’t effective. The reason being, their employees come and stay in nice hotels and don’t really take the time to integrate and learn about the communities they are working for. PC volunteers live in their communities for 2 years!! They integrate and garner the respect of their peers in their communities. In this way PC volunteers are able to create and complete a project which lasts in their community even after they leave.

Wow, that was intense, but yes that is my main reason for joining. Another rather large reason is my love of learning about new cultures and meeting people from different cultures. As much as I hated eating jamon almost everyday in Spain or the dubbed TV shows or having to wear socks on the tile because if you didn’t it made you sick, I still loved the experience. PC allows me to experience a culture for a whole 2 years!!!. The thing I regret most about Sevilla was that I didn’t stay in Sevilla my whole time. So, I didn’t really get to speak the language as well as I would have liked to and still felt a little like an outsider when I left. This is my main priority going into the PC. To really integrate myself into the community. PC allows me to do this.

Other than that, there are certain logistics which are advantageous for me at this time in my life to join the PC. For example, I have no debt, no house, no real possessions, no obligations, no girlfriend (who wuda thought I would say that was a good thing), etc. etc. As you can see, there is nothing holding me back.

Ah I missed a big thing. This experience will correlate with my career as well. (I know, there are just so many good things right?!??!). I would like to pursue a career in international development. What better way to launch this career than by getting experience abroad, let alone 2 years!!

I think I’ve covered enough for now. If I need to make an addition I will. Contact me with questions or concerns.

And so it begins...

So this is my 3rd blog that I've started probably in the last 2 years. However, there is something rather special about this one. This one I'm pretty sure will last, because unlike the others which only had the purpose of relaying the random thoughts which went through my head, this blog has some meaning. This blog will inform you of all of my thoughts, actions, etc. regarding my Peace Corps experience. So let's get started.

I started the application sometime in August when I was actually at my internship. Rather ironic I think but rather fitting. I came across an article in the Washington Post regarding how more college grads were joining teach for america and the peace corps after graduation. I think I always knew about the Peace Corps I just really didn't know exactly what it was. So, I did some research at work and was like...Wow this is exactly what I want to do with my life. Why haven't I found this earlier...After that moment, I've been a little obsessed with the Peace Corps.

I submitted my application on September 9th. The same date that my last reference was submitted (by my best friend Aakash, who in fact was given the information on how to fill out the reference first...its a long story). Anyways, I had my interview in about a week, on the 17th I believe. The interview was really great. It was professional but laid back at the same time. It flew by and she was like...Ok well let's look at some programs for you....it was hard to hold back excitement. So, she was like...I have a program leaving in July/August 2008 for Latin America in Business Advising...exactly what I want!!! I was like ...sign me up. So now I am in fact nominated for that program and waiting on my medical papers to arrive so I can get medically cleared.

As to my reasons for joining the Peace Corps...that post will have to wait a little longer...but let me leave you with my motivation statement....


My Motivation Statement

Endless plastic bags from CVS and 7-11 strewn across the floor, my gym clothes laid out on an un-made bed, an F.C. Sevilla flag just barely hanging on with the help of my weak masking tape, and a laptop computer with a desktop background of me dressed as a "torero" (bullfighter) at Carnaval in Cadiz. This is the scene I come home to everyday after my summer internship at XM radio in Washington D.C. It sounds like the college kid's dream: working at an entertainment company and having the opportunity to see famous performers on any given day. However, a finance internship at XM radio has left me unsatisfied. This feeling has given me pause, and I have begun to reevaluate my direction in life.

My XM internship combined with prior experiences would allow me to compete for positions at highly respected consulting or financial services firms. Still, I wonder if pursuing this path would ultimately be gratifying to me. Though the work of these firms is critical to the world economy and indirectly affects people’s lives, I am looking for an experience that is much more hands-on, with direct access to the people I am trying to help. I know I possess a longing to serve and help people who did not enjoy the opportunities that were available to me or people I know. Volunteering at CentroNía, a non-profit organization which focuses on educating underprivileged youth in D.C., granted me the chance to tutor disadvantaged children in the D.C. school system. This experience was very rewarding and satisfying, and is something I wish to build upon. Furthermore, a position in the Peace Corps would bolster my academic goals, and help turn theory into reality. I am currently studying international business and finance with the hope of having a career in the field of international development. I spent the past semester in Sevilla, Spain where I took business courses in Spanish and lived with a Spanish family. This experience only heightened my awareness and respect for other cultures and customs. In addition, it boosted my desire to obtain more experience in other diverse cultures.

Given my educational background and experience both at home and abroad, I believe that the Peace Corps can provide me with the opportunity to fulfill many of my goals. Serving as a volunteer with the Peace Corps would allow me to share my skills with people who live in an environment where it is very difficult to learn and obtain the skills that I have been able to acquire so easily and readily. Moreover, volunteering at the Peace Corps affords me the prospect of interacting and living in a new culture. In the future, the experience and skills I hope to gain as a Peace Corps volunteer will supply me with a great foundation for a career in international development or in the non-profit sector. For these reasons, I believe that I can learn a great deal as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, and that, in turn, I can become a valuable asset to the Peace Corps.