Peace Corps Application Essay
I want to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer for several reasons. First, like other volunteers, helping those who are in need is my passion. Second, I believe in cosmopolitan values and I challenge myself to understand culture and values that I am unfamiliar with. Third, I want to help show the world that the United States is an immigrant nation and diversity is one of its core values.
Born to local Chinese parents in Hong Kong, I immigrated to the United States when I was 19. I decided to leave my hometown despite having an admission offer from its best university because I wanted the experience of living a new life in an entirely different culture. The transition into American culture was both fascinating and painfully difficult. The language …show more content…
The environment was stressful and unpleasant. Many clients who were experiencing homelessness or suffering from mental illness did not appreciate the help from me and the impact of my work was not always apparent. But I kept coming back for as much as my schedule allowed. I learned from this experience that I can and I want to have a career of helping people. I was committed to finishing my doctoral program. But after I graduated, I reconsidered serving for Peace Corps and the long consideration eventually brought me to this application.
Serving for Peace Corps would give me the opportunity to represent the United States oversea. I am aware that non-white volunteers may be considered “less American” by the locals in their service countries. This makes it more important to show the world that diversity is a core American value and non-White immigrants like me are no less American than their white counterparts. This is why I want to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer instead serving for other organizations or simply starting a new career of helping others in the United States.
I believe that my cross-cultural experience and other personal history demonstrate that I am prepared to overcome challenges associated with Peace Corps service. I look forward to talking with you in the
Born to local Chinese parents in Hong Kong, I immigrated to the United States when I was 19. I decided to leave my hometown despite having an admission offer from its best university because I wanted the experience of living a new life in an entirely different culture. The transition into American culture was both fascinating and painfully difficult. The language …show more content…
The environment was stressful and unpleasant. Many clients who were experiencing homelessness or suffering from mental illness did not appreciate the help from me and the impact of my work was not always apparent. But I kept coming back for as much as my schedule allowed. I learned from this experience that I can and I want to have a career of helping people. I was committed to finishing my doctoral program. But after I graduated, I reconsidered serving for Peace Corps and the long consideration eventually brought me to this application.
Serving for Peace Corps would give me the opportunity to represent the United States oversea. I am aware that non-white volunteers may be considered “less American” by the locals in their service countries. This makes it more important to show the world that diversity is a core American value and non-White immigrants like me are no less American than their white counterparts. This is why I want to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer instead serving for other organizations or simply starting a new career of helping others in the United States.
I believe that my cross-cultural experience and other personal history demonstrate that I am prepared to overcome challenges associated with Peace Corps service. I look forward to talking with you in the