How do I know if the peace corps is right for me?

Question

I really want to make a difference with my life. I know I'm not going to be able to change the world, but if I can help someone somewhere, that will at least be something. I am a senior in high school now, and I'm thinking about joining the peace corps after my associates degree. But how do I know if that will be right for me?

Answer 1

I am in PC right now.  I joined after my masters and 7 years into my career.  Most are just out of their bachelors with a few retirees.  Those are just the stats to let you know how you would compare to others as far as experience and age.  Some things that may help you decide, is to travel to developing countries and do some short-term volunteer work.  You can find opportnities domestically and internationally depending on your time and budget.  If you are interested in international development, PC is a great resume builder and experience to get into the field.  Also, knowing a language or having an interest in learning a language is a huge part of PC.  Most placements are in foreign speaking places.

There are lots of ways to make a difference, so explore your options and know what your really want before making any decisions.  It's great that you are thinking ahead, so my advice is just be thorough in your search.

You can read books about Peace Corps experiences as well.  Living Poor is one of my favorites.  Lots of us have blogs as well.  Also, everyone has a different experience based on who we are and where we are placed, so you won't know 100% what it will be like for you.

Feel free to email me if you have more questions and good luck.

Answer 2

I was a PCV 35 years ago. Your question is a little like asking how do you know true love or the one true religion; if you are a thinking person, you will usually have doubts now and again, no matter which path you choose.

About 8 of the 30 people in my training group quit and went home before they finished the training. They had been accepted and decided it wasn't for them after all. (One person in a larger group didn't even get off the plane, when we landed in Kuala Lumpur.) So even after you are accepted you may decide it isnt for you.

Most volunteers have at least a bachelor's; 92% or so. The others have 10 - 50 years of experience.

> I know I'm not going to be able to change the world, but if I can help someone somewhere,

That's a good first step. Have you volunteered at other things? Do you value making a difference more than making money? Do you mind rough accomodations? (I had water 24 hours a day and electricity 12; my daughter, who is a PCV in Peru right now, has electricity 24 hours a day but water from 6 am to 1 pm. Neither of us had hot water; we take/took tepid showers. Hers is colder than mine was.

Keep thinking about it. When the time comes, you may be excited and aprehensive; that is normal.

The Peace Corps application process is the most rigorous "job interview" you'll ever have, unless you become an astronaut or a supreme court justice. They do a reasonable job of weeding out people who won't fit. Not perfect; every training group loses some people, but reasonable.

Answer 3

I think the other responses have covered most of the basics.

I would just like to add that I think Peace Corps volunteers make more of a difference in the world than any NGO, government program, or charity out there. The difference is that an individual works with and cares about the community.

PCV's that I know say that they thought roughing it would be the hardest part of the experience, but lonliness and not being able to converse in their native tongue with others turns out to be far harder. However, the ones I know wouldn't trade their experience for anything. They are my heroes.

Answer 4

Well, I'm not a PeaceCorps member, but I want to be after I graduate college so I have a few recommendations.

First off, try doing a year or two in AmeriCorps ( http://www.americorps.gov ). AmeriCorps is generally seen as the domestic PeaceCorps and they like that view. I volunteered with a state program that was part of AmeriCorps (SonomaServes) and it was great. I'd like to do a year under the traveling AmeriCorps duties as well, but I can't due to college. But more importantly, you can start volunteering when you're 17 years old and it gives you a bit of flavor for what state volunteer programs are like. Also, you do not need a degree of any type to be in AmeriCorps.

Read up the PeaceCorps website ( http://www.peacecorps.gov ). They'll tell you if you're qualified or what it takes to be qualified. Usually they do not accept people with Associate Degrees, just a forewarning. There are circumstances where an Associate degree is all right, but usually they want a Bachelor Degree or higher in your education.

How much time do you want to give into your service? PeaceCorps is usually two years, three months. Three months is dedicated to language training; the rest of the two years are work. What are you going to teach? Are you going to try to become qualified to teach things about AIDS/HIV? Are you trying to go into education? Agriculture? Building? What is your speciality going to be while in the PeaceCorps? Not everyone is a teacher, not everyone is a farmer.

What are you willing to go through to travel to some of these areas? You might need to take malaria medications. You might have to hide information about yourself because of sociological dangers (e.g. If I were in Jordan - the only mid-eastern country to accept aid from the PeaceCorps - I probably shouldn't mention that I'm Jewish... In a lot of the areas it can be dangerous for you if you're homosexual). Things can go wrong; some of the medications can have a really bad effect on people, or sometimes people contract things even if they were taking preventative care such as malaria medication.

I agree with everything that the poster above me said as well; these are just some pointers I've been told about or read about during AmeriCorps.

Answer 5

Have you ever lived in a place with limited infrastructure -- even camping for a few weeks? Did you like it?

How do you handle stress or conflict situations?

Do you have much experience working with people who are of a VERY different social, cultural or economic background than you?

Have you ever traveled on your own anywhere?

Here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by long-term placement organizations, such as the PeaceCorps, and how you can start to gain such experience locally, wherever you are now. You are never too young nor too old to start engaging in activities and training that will make you a viable candidate for long-term volunteer placement agencies:

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volu...