In my humble opinion, the most important quality to have when applying to the Peace Corps is motivation. Even though most assignments require at least a bachelors degree or years of working experience, I’d say the most important thing is your whole outlook on what it means and what it would be like to volunteer in a foreign country, in conditions vastly different from the United States for 2 years. During interviews, I was asked about my education and experience and what skills and knowledge I could contribute, but about 85% of the questions were about how I could adapt to a different culture, or how would I manage stress, or how would I handle being away from home for that long. These are the things that are really important. When I applied, 4 of my close friends had also submitted applications. Only one other friend and I actually recieved invitations and are departing in early 2012. My other three friends were never denied or rejected. They just decided that Peace Corps was not for them. I have a feeling that happens a lot. You’ll sometimes feel like they’re making you jump through hoops to show how dedicated you are to getting one of those blue packets in the mail, but that dedication matters so much more than having a couple years of work experience.
Know that you’re not going to change the whole world. Know that it won’t be a two year vacation. Know that it’s not just a resume booster or a great way to learn a new language. Know that at times you’ll probably be really homesick or really frustrated. If you know and realize all these things and still think Peace Corps will be “the toughest job you’ll ever love” then APPLY. You’ve probably got what they’re looking for. :)
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elizabethcarol reblogged this from sarahreichle and added:
And this is exactly what I realized when I talked to a friend who was in the peace corp for three years tonight. Is the...
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sarahreichle posted this
