Since I can remember, I have always loved volunteering. The harder the challenge or the more manual labor and power tools were involved, the more I was enthused to do it. I had worked with Habitat for Humanity in both Plano and Austin, done park and lake clean-ups, electronic waste drives, volunteered at carnivals, coordinated blood drives, ran career fairs, the works. I loved volunteering and just helping out in any way I could. I was even a part of the UT Chapter (Alpha Rho) of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity!
It wasn't until after sophomore year at the University of Texas at Austin when I looked more into the Peace Corps, and I really became serious about it after my junior year, the summer of 2010. What impacted my decision since then were four different factors: 1) I was not entirely sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do with my major, chemical engineering, 2) I went to LeaderShape-Texas in May 2009 and was a part of the staff in May 2011, 3) I studied abroad in Toulouse, France in June-July 2010, and 4) I traveled to the jungles of Sieykin, Panama for three weeks with Engineers Without Borders.
One reason why I chose chemical engineering was because it was a challenge and it provided a very broad range of occupations for me to graduate into; however, I didn't want to end up somewhere and be unhappy. So, when I went to LeaderShape, which by the way is one the the BEST decisions I have ever made in my college career, those seven days transformed me and caused me to look at myself in a different light. On the last couple of days of the institute we were to create a vision, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that mine reflected the conservation and preservation of life, art, and knowledge. I guess I was expecting something a little more technical, but nonetheless I realized what my passions in life were at that point. Indirectly, it made me realize I didn't want to go the typical route of a chemical engineer after I graduated.
Now I have to say, I have been to MANY many leadership conferences and even ran a couple in high school, but this was entirely different for me. I didn't realize until later how much it really impacted my perspective on life and myself and ultimately was the first real step towards the Peace Corps direction.
In the summer of 2010, I studied abroad in France. It was my first time to Europe and although I have always loved to travel, I became addicted to it. I wanted to explore the world! But, it wasn't the foreignness of the place that influenced my decision to apply, it was the class itself. I was enrolled in Dr. Janet Ellzey's Engineering Standards and Policy in a Global Environment. It was a presentation-based class, so our homework was to research a topic (or two) in pairs/teams and present it every day to our classmates (there were a total of eight of us). One of the topics was water standards and accessibility in developing countries. During the hours of research and listening to presentations that week, I suddenly became extremely passionate about it - especially for African countries. At that moment, my underlying introspection to apply to the Peace Corps became a reality. I finished and submitted my application on April 2, 2011, knowing it would take 9-12 months for the rest of the application process to be completed.
Then, the true test of my devotion came in 2011 when I traveled with Engineers Without Borders to the remote villages in Sieykin, Panama. We were going there to implement a potable water system for the Naso people, but were unexpectedly presented with a significant issue - our potable water source from the spring was virtually dry. Instead, we concentrated on the other part of our project and built three concrete bridge pediments to anchor the existing non-potable water lines across two streams. The lines were currently attached to trees about 75 feet above the stream. Not exactly the most reliable anchor, especially during the notorious rainstorms. We succeeded with flying colors and even had time to survey the topography up a steep climb and survey villagers about their water and energy usage. Unfortunately, I had a very interesting experience with bats and developed an incredible animosity towards mosquitoes. Apparently, both of them love me. Even so, after staying up in the pitch black talking to the Peace Corps Volunteer in Sieykin for hours about anything and everything, and the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of being a PCV, I realized I HAVE TO DO THE PEACE CORPS. No matter what.
Initially, I wanted to do environmental engineering and water sanitation for the Peace Corps in Northern Africa because it would relate the most to my major and I wanted to become fluent in French, though I was entirely flexible. I just knew I really wanted to do it. The Peace Corps would give me an opportunity that would mostly be funded by the government, and it was a long enough commitment - 27 months - for me to make some sort of impact without having to do it for the rest of my life if I wanted to opt out. After a series of required documents, physicals, and interviews, I was finally nominated to be in education in sub-Saharan Africa! I was thrilled because I wanted to be in Africa anyway and was excited to get to teach. It wasn't until another set of interviews and physicals that I received my invitation on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 that I found out I was going to be a Secondary School Math Teacher in Tanzania!
And now you know...the rest of the story. ;)
Well written! Daddy would love the last sentence...and you know what I mean.... :)
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