Accountablity

Hello and welcome to my blog! The real introduction is coming; however, felt moved to include this as my first post. When I was first accepted into the Peace Corps, I was asked to send an aspiration statement to my host country. You can find the first section from this statement blow. These are my preliminary thoughts about the challenges facing me and a brief history of how I came to apply for this job as well as my preparations for it. By revealing this to you, I can be held accountability for my goals and attitude while overseas. Please enjoy.

At the beginning of 2011, I resolved to be bold and take chances. I never would have dreamed, at the time, how my life would change so dramatically as a result. After spending a month with my college in Costa Rica, I decided to pursue service in the Peace Corps. Once I graduated in May, I worked with Habitat for Humanity and at a factory, gaining valuable experience riveting, hammering, and drilling. This led me to an opportunity to help manage flood relief for a small town in the Catskill Mountains. Here, I was thrust into a chaotic environment, knowing no one, with destruction all around me. I planned on staying for five days and ended up committing to three months of work. Although the town will not recover fully for years, I was able to see it begin to stabilize before I left. Of course, during this time I was also taking French classes and completing my Peace Corps requirements. I am currently teaching Math at a high school in Pennsylvania and will do so until I leave for Burkina Faso.

Looking back at this year, I realize that I have already begun my pre-service training (in a way). In Costa Rica, I became more comfortable attempting a second language, even when I was not proficient, and improved greatly as a result. In the factory, I learned skills that will help me deal with any problems I may face when living on my own. Through working with flood relief, I gained experience with dealing with loss, taking initiative for projects, working with organizations and seeking funding, and working as a team. Finally, I am developing my own teaching abilities for when I have classes in Burkina Faso. Overall, I feel that I have truly been pushed and pulled in many different directions, allowing me to become more flexible and ready for the challenges that service abroad will present me.

I plan on using my organizational skills, creativity, responsibility, and willingness to go the extra mile to serve others throughout my assignment. I have a strong work ethic and do not give up easily. However, I just cannot foresee what my service in Burkina Faso will require of me. I understand that it will be a unique challenge to determine what my role will be and what I can undertake on my own to better my local community. At the very least, I know I will be using my past experiences as a template for how to continue serving and interacting with others abroad. I trust my ability to adapt to any situation will allow me to be an effective member of the community at which I will be stationed.

Also, I recognize that sometimes the fruit of one’s labor is not immediately visible. I seek to make a difference in at least one person’s life during my service. Ideally, I hope to bring relief to my area in Burkina Faso by supplying education for its children. Nonetheless, I aspire to excel in all I do and to learn just as much from the Burkinabe (if not much, much more so!) as they will hopefully learn from me.