Would I Want to Join the Peace Corp?


I was listening to WAAF yesterday morning on my way into work and they had Presidential Candidate John McCain on. The host of the show asked about McCain's call to reinstate the draft at which point McCain corrected him explaining that he wanted to call US citizens to service, not require it of them. McCain spoke of the many ways citizens can serve the greater good, though service with the armed forces, volunteering, peace corps etc.

It got me to thinking, is that something I could do/would do? I know I would never join the army. I've seen it do so little for the people I know who have joined, thought the idea of the Peace Corps has always interested me. So I did a little research at the official Peace Corps website.

I could really use a life changing event, a positive one that is, before I get into any trouble that would cause a negative one. I always enjoyed being a peer tutor in college and I love helping people when though I know in the long run it probably won't benefit me to do so. So I decided to weigh the pros and cons.

Weighing my Peace Corp Pros and Cons

Derived from the limited information I have read on the internet.

Pro

  • Do some good in this world
  • Help develop personal skills and traits. Leadership, humility, life skills, language skills cultural understanding...
  • $6,000 cash upon return
  • Looks great on a resume
  • Might be the change I need in my life, to give me a stronger will to make more changes in my life in the future.

Cons

  • 2 years 3 months commitment. If I joined and went in today I wouldn't get back to my regular life until March 2010 at age 25.
  • $6,000 is not a lot of money, I make that in ~2 months
  • With my poor eating habits I would need to spend a lot of time adjusting to regular eating habits/meals before I even applied or I would become ill.
  • Can I really give up the rest of my early 20's?
  • Can I walk away from my friends and family that abruptly, for that long?

It would be a scary decision to make, and I think that's why I cannot make it right now.

It's great that my student loans could be deferred that whole time but what about finding work when I get back.

Something a little shorter term might be a better idea for me.

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1 year ago
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