When I tell someone I joined the Peace Corps and will be serving in Namibia I get the same three questions every time
1. Where is that? Boarders South Africa to the North West
2. What will you do when you get back? That is 27 months away
3. Why did you want to do that?
The last question is way too long of a answer to give in passing but i'll share here. It would be good for me to start with a bit of context.
March of 2018 I had just graduated and returned from a 8 week back packing trip through Thailand. I made a stop back at home to get my dog and my new-to-me Jeep Wrangler. I started a position with a highly regarded tech advisory company with the very real potential to make six figures, soon to be turning down interviews from amazon and google all the while working out of Florida enjoying the best weather there is. I quickly made friends in my new role and for the next year enjoyed some great times, life long memories, and forever friends. One long weekend included an all expense paid trip to the Dominican with my team of eight co-workers. Truly I couldn't ask for anything more, I was living the dream. And then I left...
The Peace Corps had been in the back of my mind since starting school but I had never been qualified to join, but the question is why did I want to join. I wanted to join to give others the same opportunities that I had, I wanted to assist in putting other people in a position where they can excel and provide not only for themselves but their community.
I have worked very hard for everything I have, I started working when I was 8 years old cleaning vacuum cleaners to resell them to earn some extra money, selling sodas/candy, and selling miscellaneous items on eBay but I would be lying if I said I didn't have every opportunity in the world.
When I was young I remember that my dad would work so hard to provide for our family that he would already of left for work when I woke up in the morning and he wouldn't get home until after I went to sleep sometimes. My mother would take off work to be home when I arrived to help me with my homework, take me to the library, take me to one of the sports I played, or even hire a tutor.
My uncle would let me work in his vacuum store to help clean up traded in vacuums to sell so I could earn money. My cousin showed me how to sell things on eBay. My brother showed me how to move away from home, how to finish college, and how to become successful after school.
My family ensured that I never had to miss a meal, that I always had a roof over my head, but perhaps most important they supported me in my desire to help in my community working in shelters, court systems, mission trips, and being a part of big brother big sister. Being able to see those struggling made me see all the opportunities that I had that I never had to work for, opportunities that I was simply given. These opportunities with my hard work is why I am successful today. Not everyone has these opportunities foreign or even domestic. I gave everything I had up to join the Peace Corps to give someone the opportunity to enable themselves to do great things for themselves, their family, and their community. I can't wait to start.
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