Why Peace Corps, Why Costa Rica, and What Exactly Am I Doing Here?

My last two years were spent completing my Master’s degree in International Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. These years were incredibly formative: living in one of the world’s most important and international cities was eye-opening for me and provided tremendous policy experience. When I committed to studying at GW, I accepted what is known as the Wolcott Fellowship. This distinction included a merit-based scholarship and a commitment to a minimum of two years of public service following the conferral of my degree. My work experience in DC was enriching, but I knew that I wanted further field experience abroad before beginning my career in international affairs. Becoming a Peace Corps volunteer seemed like the perfect opportunity to serve my country, fulfill my commitment for the Wolcott Fellowship, and to gain practical professional experience internationally.


So why Costa Rica? Well… Who wouldn’t want to live here? I feel particularly lucky to be serving in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is quite literally paradise. The people are friendly, the nature is stunning, and it represents the strongest democracy in Central America. I was a Spanish major in college and
briefly studied abroad in Ecuador and Guatemala. I cherish this opportunity to further enhance my Spanish language ability and my knowledge of the region.


Specifically, during my time in Costa Rica, I will be serving as a Youth Development (YD) volunteer. I landed in Costa Rica in July 2024, and my service is scheduled to run until September 2026, for a total of 27 months. What being a YD volunteer means in short is that I will work in public schools in Costa Rica. There, some of my tasks will include promoting life skills, (communication, teamwork, etc.) community engagement, and strong support systems for youth.


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