My Aspirations

My aspiration statement for the Peace Corps. We're required to send it in as an introduction to the in-country staff and as a writing sample. Might as well share since it's pretty important and I put a lot of thought (and time) into it.

1. The professional attributes that you plan to use, and what aspirations you hope to fulfill, during your Peace Corps service:

One of my aspirations for my Peace Corps service is to get lots of hands-on experience in agriculture. I didn’t grow up on a farm, and as an animal science major, much of my experience in the field is theoretical. The reason I got into agriculture in the first place is because I love being outside surrounded by nature. I saw agriculture as a practical way to spend my days outdoors doing physical labor and working with animals and with the land. It’s also an area with many positive aspects; however it does have room for improvements as well. As a young, passionate person with an open mind I feel I have the potential to make a positive impact, no matter how big or small, to make the world a better place. When a started thinking about graduating and what I wanted to do after college, none of the jobs I found appealed to me. I wanted something that would push me to see the world from a new perspective as well as expanding my knowledge of agriculture. Peace Corps is the logical next step.

Other aspirations include being thrown into a totally new way of life and adapting. I'm ready to try something difficult. I want to live in a place with few of the amenities that are taken for granted here in the States. I want to experience how so many other people in the world live so I can better appreciate what I have and be less wasteful. In addition I’m excited to take on the responsibility that comes with a leadership role. I’m ready to put everything I have into building trust and respect in a new community and coping with my triumphs and failures in projects that benefit people and the environment. I also want to become fluent in another language, less materialistic, and see new things and meet new people.

Attributes I intend to use are my self-motivation and strong work ethic. Whether in athletics or the classroom, failure has never been an option for me. Even if I don’t come in first, I always give things my best shot. I never want to look back and be ashamed of my work or have my options limited in the future because of something that was under my control. I also intend on using my leadership skills and working on being a team player. Much of my organized athletic activities and student farm work has involved something physically hard or uncomfortable accomplished as a group. Although I realize that I’m going to learn as much or more than the people I help, ultimately I’m in this to help the people in the community I’m serving. I intend on listening to them and trying to include, teach, and make as many people happy as possible. Finally, I will maintain my humility. I’ve always been a broad-minded person and these attributes will serve me well in a new culture and hopefully help me gain respect and confidence in my new community.

2. Your strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs:

To work effectively with host country partners, I plan on being a good listener. I’ll do my best to befriend and get to know those I work with. If they feel comfortable with me, they’ll be more likely to say if I’m doing something wrong. And by getting to know them, I’ll learn what really needs to get accomplished and if I need to prioritize. Furthermore, if problems with colleagues do arise, I’ll go to my host family and friends within the community, or my Program Director, for advice on how to handle the situation in an appropriate manner. Lastly, I’ll remember that it’s very rare for anything to go exactly as planned. You can’t let this upset you or you won’t be as effective at helping and learning. It’s important to stay flexible and seize opportunities as they come.

3. Your strategies for adapting to a new culture with respect to your own cultural background:

Adjusting to a new culture will be difficult. I expect one of the biggest challenges is dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation. I’m used to having family and friends close by to lean on. To cope I plan on putting all my energy into the projects I’m working on and into building new relationships with the people in the community to create a new support network. Another challenge is cultural practices and language barriers. The best way to deal with this may be to be as involved as possible with the lives of the people I’m staying with. This way I’ll become acquainted with traditions and practices and understand the meaning or reason behind them. Being interested and respectful will help me to gain acceptance and not feel like such an outsider. Paying close attention during pre-service training and following all advice given there will help as well. Also, speaking with people as much as possible will help me to master the language faster and further help me surmount cultural barriers. I try to listen before making any assumptions. This is about the people I’m with, not me.

4. The skills and knowledge you hope to gain during pre-service training to best serve your future community and project:

During pre-service training I’m especially concerned about learning the agriculture and extension skills needed to successfully complete the projects I take on. I’m an animal science major, not a crop and horticulture major, so despite volunteering extensively in the student gardens, my knowledge is limited. Not to mention tropical agriculture is totally different from Ohio agriculture! Hopefully I will learn the production and teaching skills required.

Local language skills are also a concern for me. I have a basic understanding of French but that’s about it. I’d also like to learn about cultural customs and traditions so I can stay safe and integrate into my new life faster. I’m assuming during this time volunteers will be able to get to know each other. By meeting and working with other volunteers in my sector, later we can collaborate and pool our skill sets in a productive way.

5. How you think Peace Corps will influence your personal and professional aspirations after your service ends:

After my service ends, I hope to either get a fulfilling job or go back to school and get my Masters in something related to sustainable agriculture. Ultimately I’d like to integrate my knowledge of plant and animal production and use it to help feed people, whether in America or elsewhere in the world, in a way that doesn’t destroy the environment. Maybe I'll even have my own farm. Personally, I want to further develop my leadership and language skills to make myself a more valuable, effective worker in a community of farmers and consumers.