Sidebar #85 - Would I recommend being a Peace Corps Volunteer?

As I inch closer to the end of my service, I anticipate this will be a question I’ll receive by peers, colleagues, and people who are interested in the Peace Corps. And in short? I think Peace Corps service is an incredible opportunity for the right kind of person. I’ve had an amazing experience, and I’d recommend it to most like-minded people. For someone straight out of college, I think Peace Corps is a perfect way to begin a career or to discover oneself if not sure where to start. Similarly, for someone who is frustrated with his or her work and is tired of the mundane with minimal commitments at home, Peace Corps is an ideal reset. I’m coming away from my Peace Corps service with the thought that if every single US Citizen had served in the Peace Corps, our country would be a much more open-minded, global place.

On the other hand, I wouldn’t recommend Peace Corps service to certain archetypes of people. If you are someone who is afraid to leave your comfort zone, Peace Corps isn’t for you. Furthermore, if you are someone who doesn’t like to follow rules and despises bureaucracy, Peace Corps may be a frustrating experience. There are lots of rules and lots of bureaucracy throughout service. Finally, I think the Peace Corps would present an extremely challenging experience for someone who is introverted. The first 3 months in-country is a summer-camp like training experience with other volunteers, and then once arriving in the host community, volunteers are often local celebrities who are forced to speak in public and are always on the clock. All in all, I can’t recommend the Peace Corps enough, and I hope more and more Americans apply.

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