mrveitch

“I’m joining the Peace Corps” elicits quite polarizing responses from people. Some are positive and people respect me for my decision. They often even wish they were young enough or brave enough to go themselves. 

Many of the responses I have received however, have been quite negative. I have been ridiculed for my poor decision to “work for no money” and not having a long term plan to make money. I “wasted my parents money going to college” and am even ungrateful for all they’ve done. When people told me that, I usually didn’t bother to explain my reasons for choosing the Corps, which in retrospect, probably confirmed in their minds that I had no idea what I was doing. Maybe I don’t, but  I was not about to be swayed by the opinions of strangers and acquaintances.

Still, with little more than a month left before I hop on that plane and begin the next chapter of my life, I would like to take some time to explain myself a bit. *Note: my decision to join the Peace Corps and desire to return to China actually coming together was an incredible coincidence. I was ready to go literally anywhere*

People assume that my decision to study Chinese was well-informed and done with a purpose. Truth is, I have never been that smart or put-together. In  fact, some of the big decisions I have made up to this point have been precisely because I wasn’t sure if I would succeed. Perhaps I’m a masochist, but the possibility of failure motivates me more than the certainty of success. I have convinced myself that this is best way to grow as a person. The Peace Corps offers me that opportunity in ways that I’m not sure I can find elsewhere. They believe that I have in me the capacity to be a successful volunteer and now, through the uncertainty, I will try my hardest to prove them right.

Of course there is so much more that went into my decision- helping people, all the benefits that come with working for the federal government, perfecting my Chinese and my long term goal of becoming a Foreign Service Officer (diplomat)- but when it comes down to it, I think I did it because I was scared and that bothered me. Keep reading to see if I conquer that fear. I really hope I do haha