So I have been thinking about joining the Peace Corps, but I've had some mixed feelings in the past. While I like the idea of helping people, I've felt at times that the program was largely ineffectual. So now I'd like to ask you: should I join the Peace Corps? It's something I'd like to do probably 2016 after I complete my bachelor's but before going on to law or graduate school. And I'm both looking for advice and to open a discussion about the Peace Corps, so any advice you have at all is appreciated, and I'd appreciate you sharing your feelings on the Peace Corps in general.
The experience and personal growth to be gained are likely enough reason to say yes if you bothered to ask the question. It may be your contribution to the effort seen by itself is minimal, yet the idea and effort as a whole most certainly make a powerful difference in many parts of the world. Ask yourself if ego is more important than goodness.....there you will find your answer.
I think that joining the Peace Corps would be an awesome thing to do. I wanted to join the Peace Corps when I was younger but they required a college degree I think and I did not have one so I gave up on it.
I think you are unlikely to get anything but uninformed partisan viewpoints. I have an opinion about the Peace Corp, but don't pretend to be well informed about the program. I would go to a site where you are likely to find former members of the Peace Corp and find out whether they thought their experiences were worthwhile or not. Facebook and Linkedin both seem likely candidates but there might be a dedicated web page for Peace Corp Veterans. Do it if it seems worthwhile to you personally- and to hell with with everyone else.
I've been living and working in a developing country for just over six years,, my wife for over 10 years. It's an eye opening esperience and puts your home country into a bit of perspective. My work is split between private enterprise, I teach in the evenings at a private school,, during the day I'm employed by various NGOs on a freelance basis, sometimes in a voluteer capacity. I come from a journalism and photojournalism background. I'm thoroughly enjoying my work here. I only wish I would have began doing this in my 20s or 30s instead of in my 50s. Fabulous work, busy most of the time with not all that much pay (compared to Australia). It's the people I have met and been associated with, mainly locals, that makes it special.
The people I know who have participated were glad they did. And even if it were true that the program as a whole were ineffectual, that doesn't mean that you as an individual can't make a positive contribution to the community in which you are embedded.
I admire your yearning to participate in such an endeavor. The experience you would gain in this type of volunteer work would be invaluable and irreplaceable. My only question is: Why the Peace Corps? There's so much controversy related to this liberal group and there are so many other ways you could contribute and other groups you could choose from, which would be as or more beneficial to you and those you serve. I would do some research on them, prior to joining their cause, and I would suggest looking elsewhere.
I've personally known three people who were in the Peace Corps. One became a career state department official in the area he served and lived a very successful life. One became a psychologist at a state mental hospital and slept on the floor of his apartment for the rest of his life (he got out of the bed habit). The third is a sister-in-law who has used her experience to confuse Mexican waiters (using Honduran Spanish). I'd go for it. I think they help out with paying off student loans, and it's an adventure you will never forget.
Fortunately or unfortunately student loans aren't much of a concern. I have $3500 in subsidized loans and probably won't take anymore loans until graduate school, and I was kind of thinking about the peace corps in between undergrad and grad school. You know, before I'm 30 and "ancient." Anyways, thanks all for the advice.
I don't know what you want to do as a full time career but I can't think of a whole lot of resumes where "provided clean water for a town of 3000 using bamboo pipes" wouldn't look better than "helped organize Delta Chi's Annual Beer, Drug and Girls Partay" I don't recall any specific ones off the cuff but it is my understanding that a lot of useful inventions and practices have come out of Peace Corps projects. Even if you don't come out of it with a patent it still shows that you were able to survive, thrive and even help in a foreign environment and that right there is the major thing any new employee must do.
(*)(*)(*)(*) no. Who'd want to leave the relative safety of the U.S. for some third world cesspool? You could catch a disease, get killed for your nationality and/or skin color, etc. Besides, you'd be missing out on everything happening back in the states with your friends and family.
I was going to join but have no useful talents for them. The best spots to go are all in need of civil engineers, not poli sci and law grads. They have enough legal troubles apparently. I really wanted to get to Tonga at the time. In a bit of a revolutionary process there and I wanted to see it first hand and maybe even agitate a little. Then I got my own business to pay for bills in the mean time while i decided what to do with my life and won't have that freedom ever again. There is a huge personal cost associated with it though. Make sure you will have enough time afterward to save up for retirement. Do a lot of math before you stick yourself in a situation that may haunt you forever.
If I were you I'd definitely join a grassroots militia group interested in making the community a safer place. Carry a weapon and patrol more dangerous neighborhoods - stop robberies, assaults and the such. Always carry a concealed weapon for self-defense. Such things are illegal over here - so practice the right while you have it! The Peace Corps looks interesting, but it's a little more top-down than is ideal. Personally I think it's best not to get weighed down too much in love for one's government. Love the country instead - the people, the market, the culture, family, friends, mateship, whatever. Even in the best circumstances, government only every protects these ideals which exist independent of it. It's definitely a good option, but I have a feeling that competing options in the private market might provide better outcomes. The good thing about liberal government is that you don't need to rely on it to provide you with things. You can take the initiative and increase your security yourself, and the security of your neighbors. So maybe the Peace Corps would be a good choice, maybe not - but either way you should also look into grassroots rather than centralized ways of helping people. [hr][/hr] Went with not sure in the poll, because they're both good options. Pick whatever appeals to you most and you can't go wrong
If you are wealthy, you can join the Peace Corps or do whatever you want. If you are ever going to have to work for a living then don't waste your time. While you are fooling around in some third world dump your peers will be getting good jobs and making lasting careers.
I said no. The economy sucks, regardless of what the media might tell us. You have to look at the time you would be gone and the usable experience it would give you. Building wells in third world countries or whatever doesn't really translate well in developed nations when it comes to competing with others... Ten years ago I'd say go for it, but today's realities don't make such a choice all that appealing in the long run...
Avoid the US Peace Corps and put your time and effort into a legitimate NGO non-profit organization that specializes in the country or region you want to go to. The US Peace Corps has a long history of corruption and covering up hundreds of violent attacks and murders of its volunteers to try to keep a clean image as discovered by ABC News. 20/20 also found that the Peace Corps covered up over 1,000 rapes (including violent gang rapes) just between 2001 and 2011. Most NGO's have a good safety record, effective programs, and a very positive reputation with locals. While the Peace Corp is usually viewed with suspicion due to being funded by the US government.
