First Time Blogger

Ive noticed that a lot of Peace Corps volunteers and applicants keep a blog and I've decided to jump on the bandwagon. So this blog will be used to
1. Keep my friends and family updated
2. Help myself sort through my thoughts
3. Give insight to other applicants on the process.

Today is Christmas, and it's been a good one. I spent hours today online reading volunteer blogs. I wanted to see what the volunteers were doing for Christmas. Many were able to receive gifts from home and some were able to share some "Christmas spirit" to their interested community members.

I am currently in the Medical Review portion of the application, which I'd say is about halfway there. Things are getting more and more realistic the farther I get in the process, and not gonna lie, it's messing with my mind a bit. I'm definitely not regretting my decision to apply, but I am wondering if it's the right choice as far as my career goes. But I'll unload all of those thoughts in a future blog. For now I think I'll go back and start from the beginning.

What made you decide to apply for the Peace Corps?
I can't pinpoint an exact moment that I decided it was a good idea. It's kind of been a progression. I've been on a number of overseas mission trips that got me addicted to volunteer work and to living in other cultures. However, I'd say the main pushing factor for me was just finally growing up and maturing. Suddenly moving away from home wasn't scary anymore, and having a real job with real prerssures wasn't scary. I wanted to move away and experience something very different. I started thinking long term about everything including grad school, getting a job, and even about the freedoms I would lose to do something like this once I settle down in a job here one day. So basically, once it entered my mind as an option, I did TONS of research, and the more I saw, the more I believed that the PC was a perfect opportunity for me.

The Daunting Application
I think I took way longer than most to do the application lol. I guess I was just nervous and I really wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I started the application in June and finally sent it in mid to late September. Most of the application was not hard, but was tedious. You need to provide information on any job preferences you might have, language skills, licenses and certificates, employment history, volunteer activities, marital status, education history, and legal history. You also need to provide a resume, responses to two essay questions, and three references. Put everything that you think might help on your resume, because it might help determine if and where you get a nomination. Your essays are extremely important. During the interview, a lot of the conversation will revolve around what is in your essays. I actually took my essays to an English professor of mine at college. She was very helpful in focusing my ideas and in making sure that the reader can get an idea of who I am through the text. Finally, you have the 3 references, and they should be an employer, a friend, and a volunteer supervisor. I substituted my volunteer supervisor with a professor, only because she was excited to help and actually offered to write a recommendation. The recommendations are pretty easy, but take some time and focus. One thing I did that I would recommend is giving the three people a list of your activities and volunteer projects. That way they have examples in case they draw a blank. The references are done online and submitted through email, but you can provide a paper one if you choose. (I had to because my boss doesn't email...)

Then... You submit! And you celebrate cuz you think your done!
Then right away they send you more stuff to fill out online! Lol. But don't worry, it's just a basic medical survey and should only take 15 mins or so. Just be honest and thorough.

That's good for now. I'll continue with the catch-up (ketchup) in another blog.

Merry Christmas!