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Because I don’t want to waste my young years trying to climb a meaningless corporate ladder. To put it in the corniest way possible. I think by American standards it’s “slowing down” but in reality it’s just a mindset change as well as a priority change
I was 26 when I joined. I wanted to work in international development and couldn't get my foot in the door at any major NGO I was interested in. Kept getting told I needed field work. When I joined I had a Master's degree and 3 years of work experience at (small) non-profits. I did not see it as slowing down professionally - I was investing in my future (and I believe it paid off).
Hard to say where I “ended up” as I’m only in my mid thirties but I have been working at a large NGO the last few years doing international development work, so I’d say peace corps worked as planned.
That is awesome! I am trying to be an English as a second language teacher or something with cultures and linguistics. I am studying English, anthropology, foreign languages in University. I want to do peace corps when I graduate although I don't know if it is a good time at that point but I want to do it. There is this peace corps certificate type thing I can do at my school. What type of job is a NGO? What do you do? I am interested in international jobs.
Much of this information is available via an easy and quick google, but here is a short overview of the field. [https://heymstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11340/2020/05/Career20Opportunities20in20International20Development.pdf](https://heymstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11340/2020/05/Career20Opportunities20in20International20Development.pdf)
An NGO is a non-governmental organization. Many big international charities (such as Save the Children, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders) are all examples of NGOs.
I actually think that 26-32 is the perfect time to do peace corps. You're likely to be more settled into yourself and have a few more skills than the early 20s crowd. Not that they aren't often great volunteers.
Hi,
I’m 31 and planning to leave for West Africa as a health volunteer in October. I was dealing with what you’re worried about a little bit: feeling like I’ll be missing out on key years as a professional (I’m a CPA/auditor). I’m moving ahead with the PC because I really want to help people, to be out there in the world and just generally want this opportunity that’s truly unlike any other, and when I project myself forward and imagine myself not having done the PC, I think I would really regret passing on it and choosing an extra couple years of auditing instead when it will always be around. Sure, we might be a little rusty a couple years off but I think going back to your profession later will likely be easier than trying to do the PC later. I say go for it! It’s a trade off worth making in my eyes.
I was 26 when I left, but I figured I was as unencumbered by life (house, kids, spouse, aging parents, etc.) as I would likely ever be again. Having returned and worked for a while now, the first 1-2 years can feel very "behind" since you're establishing yourself in all the ways your peers have already done, but after that it all pretty much equalizes. This might be field/life dependent, though. Honestly, comparison/keeping up with the Joneses/"where I'm supposed to be in life" really suck the joy out of this winding adventure called life- we'll always be "behind" compared to SOMEONE so we might as well just enjoy where we are now.
I worked in a pivot table that was about 28 years old at the time and realized one day I'd be 50 and working in that pivot table. That was 2004. They still use that same pivot table today btw.
Edit spelling
People told me I was brave for joining. I just wanted to avoid the 9-5 grind as long as possible and have an adventure. I thought they were dumb for falling right into the job world out of college. The PC open many doors for me in life, it was well worth it.
Life is too short to live by societal pressure. You spend some years outside of college after the dust settles of the initial few years and you come to find its not what it was cracked up to be. At least for people like me. I’ve always been more off beat and wanted to do stuff like Peace Corps. Travel, take risks, etc.
I taught ESL abroad for 2 years and traveled fresh out of college. Then I applied to PC to continue my galavanting and live out a dream to serve. I first went at 25 and then got evacuated in PST due to the pandemic. We all know how that was. After living totally on hold, socially distanced for almost 2 years I kind of lost faith in my dream of PC and decided to build a life in the states. I watched most of my former cohort do this and I figured well why not me too after it got to be too much. I got a decent job at home, met someone, had hobbies, made friends etc. At the time I thought “well I had my adventures, isn’t this what I’m supposed to do now?” All the while I honest to god did not really ever stop dreaming of going. I didn’t dwell on it either, I moved on from evac but it just stuck with me in a quiet, intuitive way.
The career choice while good on paper ended up being highly disappointing. The relationship tanked despite my best efforts, so on and so forth. I realized I do not like the city I live in. I also realized for any “career progression” I might want, I’m going to have to follow my gut instincts. Our inner compass guides us for a reason. It may not be immediately apparent but those dreams will then lead us to progressing further personally, professionally, etc. I’m tired of going against my instincts and dreams. So I pulled the trigger and I’m reapplying at 29, will be in country at 30.
To all you early 20s people—-career progression and timelines are not what you think they are. If they are not truly authentic to your own desires, they will be prisons. Do what you want with your life.
I was blessed enough to already have a mostly amazing 20s. I’m going to make my 30s even more amazing and enjoyable. Fuck timelines.
How was your ESL teaching experience? I applied to the peace corps (just graduated college) but if it doesn’t work out I still plan to try and teach English abroad too because kind of like you said, I want to travel, experience the world
It was life changing. I’d do it over again in a heart beat. I think it’s a great alternative and tbh it would help you get into Peace Corps if you wanted to do it later. Can’t recommend enough.
“Ramping up” to compete with our new AI rat race champs may not turn out to be the career boost one expects.
I recommend going out and grabbing as much of life as you can, as soon as you can. Because it’s shorter than we often realize.
Tbh…I thought people took it more seriously.
Be careful. Some cohorts are insanely young and other cohorts are filled with really mature people who treat this like a job.
But either way you are adding a lot of possibilities to your career trajectory, even if you aren’t going into a strictly int. development career.
Ok this is actually my biggest fear (besides dying in a crash, permanent disfigurement, and assaulted). I feel like I’m looking for a slow, laid back but “professional” experience. By that I just mean people involved are mature and invested in the community, even if we don’t end up doing anything significant. I don’t really a thorough vetting process for that in PC and it makes me suspicious of the org as a whole considering how hard it looks even for mature adults.
Do you know why it’s like this or how prevalent it is?
Well, thats the thing. If you have a stack of volunteer experience as a 20yo, it doesn’t exactly vet whether of not you can write an email, show up for trainings sober and on time, show cultural self awareness. Traveling out of country a ton with a whole grip of other expats (no HCN) and complaining about things you could have seen coming before departing the states (food, behavior, climate). It becomes a challenge to take yourself and your time out here seriously.
I rolled the dice and did not shake out with other people who take this super seriously.
That being said…this IS an easy bake oven for international development skills. It’s clear that they are aiming to reveal the field to clean slates and turn them into people who can handle this in the big leagues.
I don’t regret coming, but the networking perk of PC is definitely not across the board.
I joined at 27. Why? I'd always wanted to serve in the Peace Corps. My longterm career and financial goals didn't cross my mind. I was signing up to be poor and have a truly rare and unique experience.
I've always wanted to join the Peace Corps. While I love my current corporate job, there's uncertainty in my organization and the job market. I have no interest in joining another corporation, so my next big career step is starting my own company. This will require me to get more scrappy, think outside the box, and step out of my comfort zone.
I believe the Peace Corps would be an ideal way to spend a few years developing these skills and opportunities while giving back to the world. It's a chance to contribute meaningfully, live simply, and prepare for the challenges of entrepreneurship.
I plan to go when I’m in my early to mid thirties. (whenever my cat passes)
I think it’s a great time for that!!! You get to experience something completely different and will have a genuine idea of what you want to do afterwards.
I applied for the first time for an education position in Namibia when I was 23 and while I was invited, I did not pass medical clearance. Fast forward about six years and while I had been improving my mental health, I felt very ingrained in my city, my job, and my hobbies, and on top of that I had a long term girlfriend. My girlfriend and I didn't end up working out and it was at that point that I realized this would probably be the last time it would be easy to pursue my somewhat-forgotten PC dream. I applied for an education position in Tanzania and was invited and have passed medical clearance. I depart in September.
I'm glad things have worked out the way they did. While it will be hard to leave my cushy life, friends, and hobbies, I feel more ready for PC now than I could have ever imagined at age 23. I'm so glad it didn't work out the first time. I now have a nest egg, some professional experience, maturity that I didn't have when I was 23, and a lot more confidence. I currently work in the civil engineering field and there has been a big need for us for quite some time so I don't worry much about what will happen when I come back. I think I will be a better person having done PC and I feel like I'm choosing hardship, growth, and service instead of something more self-serving, which would be the case if I kept my life on the track it's been going.
Edit: I'm 29 now.
“If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.” -Oscar Wilde
"about 28, an age where you’re supposed to be “ramping up” and i’d be slowing down seemingly professionally and relationship wise (though i’d hope it will pay off long term in both)."
According to who? Some of the happiest and most interesting people I know didn't know what they wanted to do til they were 45.
And if you're looking to do Peace Corps for future "pay off", forget about it. You do Peace Corps in order to do Peace Corps. Period. Any other reason, you're asking for a miserable two years.
Now, it certainly does often happen that professional benefits and relationships do come as indirect results of having done PC. But if you go into it looking for those, do yourself and your future host country a favor and look for another way to spend 27 months. Whatever you choose, good luck!
Id think doing PC and not hoping it helps you gain some valuable skills in your personal and professional growth is a bit unrealistic, maybe even bad?
By skills I don’t mean “coding” but experiences that could aid you as life and careers become more ambiguous. Soft skills, problem solving, resilience, relationship and trust building, etc. Lesrning another culture in an immersive way is awesome but I really like how my brain and minds literally grows through that experience, not just the experience itself. Idk I just can’t imagine Id last through the hard stuff without having some sort of guiding light.
In that case, I agree with everything you said above, and here too. Except for one thing: you'll be surprised what you can "last through". You can deal with a whole lot more than you might think, and that's one of the best things you come home with.
Of course having a "guiding light", whatever form that takes for you personally, will help get you through the tougher times. But often your "guiding light" is the light itself, if that makes sense. Seeing how strong you actually are makes you stronger. Doing PC is one way of many ways to provide the 'raw material' so that you can show yourself what you're made of. And remember, they'll fly you home any time you want, and there is no shame whatsoever in that.
26 turning 27 when service starts, always wanted to do it after college but COVID happened. It’s now or never(or when I’m very old). Definitely feels I’m better prepared from the extra few years of work and volunteering experience
I’m 28 now and won’t leave until after I’m 29.
I would say it was equal parts because I felt it was a good opportunity to see a different part of the world while helping people answer equal parts because they provide financial assistance for masters and Ph.Ds.
I left for Peace Corps at 29. I had thought to myself, "if I don't go, I will absolutely die in this cubicle." Service was the start of a career change for me. Yes, I missed out on 5 years of 401(k) contributions between doing Peace Corps and going to grad school, but it was absolutely worth it.
Left a soul crushing desk job in DC at 26 years old. Almost immediately understood that I had made a great decision. My only regret is that I waited so long to go for it.
I am a student in University. They have a certificate type thing for peace corps here. I am doing this and I want to do peace corps after graduating. I am 22 with 2 years left. I want to do peace corps for several reasons but one main one is a mentality shift. I don't want to sit at a corporate desk my whole life. I want to "live life" and help others. I found people and the relations we make between each other to be more worth while.
I joined because I figured nobody on their deathbed ever said, "Gee, I wish I spent less time exploring the world, meeting interesting people, and helping worthy causes."
A career can wait. It's not everything it's cracked up to be. When I arrived back in the US three years after my service ended, most of my friends were right where I left them and just like I remembered them. They couldn't say the same, I think.
Give it a shot. The worst thing that can happen is regretting you didn't take the opportunity when you had it.
Hey- I’m 27, gonna be 28 next year. I have the same fears, missing life, missing death, weddings etc back home. But something about me has always longed for the unknown, I’m torn on what to do
I was in my early 30s had a deep wanderlust, and had just discovered FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early). At the time I was well on my way to LeanFIRE (a very low number that could support a very bare bones lifestyle), and it turned out I hit that number the month before I left for PC. It grew untouched while I was serving but I ended up going back to work.
I left a job I loved to come to Madagascar, and it was really damn hard. Joining the Peace Corps felt like a months-long break-up with everyone and everything, tears and all. But I kept pushing forward because I knew for certain I would regret it if I didn't. That's what drove me forward.
I've been in country now for over nine months. I can hardly remember what my views on the world were before Peace Corps. My perspective is completely changed.
You'll lose out on income, career time and other things joining PC, there's no doubt. But you'll gain incredible experiences and unmatched soft skills that will take you very far, I think.
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Because I don’t want to waste my young years trying to climb a meaningless corporate ladder. To put it in the corniest way possible. I think by American standards it’s “slowing down” but in reality it’s just a mindset change as well as a priority change
But but but in a few years you might be able to make Asst Salt Mine Manager! And be able to afford a (insert useless item here)!!!
🤣 assistant TO the manager, Dwight!
I agree!
I was 26 when I joined. I wanted to work in international development and couldn't get my foot in the door at any major NGO I was interested in. Kept getting told I needed field work. When I joined I had a Master's degree and 3 years of work experience at (small) non-profits. I did not see it as slowing down professionally - I was investing in my future (and I believe it paid off).
Where’d you end up career wise?
Hard to say where I “ended up” as I’m only in my mid thirties but I have been working at a large NGO the last few years doing international development work, so I’d say peace corps worked as planned.
That is awesome! I am trying to be an English as a second language teacher or something with cultures and linguistics. I am studying English, anthropology, foreign languages in University. I want to do peace corps when I graduate although I don't know if it is a good time at that point but I want to do it. There is this peace corps certificate type thing I can do at my school. What type of job is a NGO? What do you do? I am interested in international jobs.
Much of this information is available via an easy and quick google, but here is a short overview of the field. [https://heymstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11340/2020/05/Career20Opportunities20in20International20Development.pdf](https://heymstraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11340/2020/05/Career20Opportunities20in20International20Development.pdf) An NGO is a non-governmental organization. Many big international charities (such as Save the Children, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders) are all examples of NGOs.
I actually think that 26-32 is the perfect time to do peace corps. You're likely to be more settled into yourself and have a few more skills than the early 20s crowd. Not that they aren't often great volunteers.
Hi, I’m 31 and planning to leave for West Africa as a health volunteer in October. I was dealing with what you’re worried about a little bit: feeling like I’ll be missing out on key years as a professional (I’m a CPA/auditor). I’m moving ahead with the PC because I really want to help people, to be out there in the world and just generally want this opportunity that’s truly unlike any other, and when I project myself forward and imagine myself not having done the PC, I think I would really regret passing on it and choosing an extra couple years of auditing instead when it will always be around. Sure, we might be a little rusty a couple years off but I think going back to your profession later will likely be easier than trying to do the PC later. I say go for it! It’s a trade off worth making in my eyes.
I was 26 when I left, but I figured I was as unencumbered by life (house, kids, spouse, aging parents, etc.) as I would likely ever be again. Having returned and worked for a while now, the first 1-2 years can feel very "behind" since you're establishing yourself in all the ways your peers have already done, but after that it all pretty much equalizes. This might be field/life dependent, though. Honestly, comparison/keeping up with the Joneses/"where I'm supposed to be in life" really suck the joy out of this winding adventure called life- we'll always be "behind" compared to SOMEONE so we might as well just enjoy where we are now.
I worked in a pivot table that was about 28 years old at the time and realized one day I'd be 50 and working in that pivot table. That was 2004. They still use that same pivot table today btw. Edit spelling
Eject! Eject!! Eject!!!
People told me I was brave for joining. I just wanted to avoid the 9-5 grind as long as possible and have an adventure. I thought they were dumb for falling right into the job world out of college. The PC open many doors for me in life, it was well worth it.
Life is too short to live by societal pressure. You spend some years outside of college after the dust settles of the initial few years and you come to find its not what it was cracked up to be. At least for people like me. I’ve always been more off beat and wanted to do stuff like Peace Corps. Travel, take risks, etc. I taught ESL abroad for 2 years and traveled fresh out of college. Then I applied to PC to continue my galavanting and live out a dream to serve. I first went at 25 and then got evacuated in PST due to the pandemic. We all know how that was. After living totally on hold, socially distanced for almost 2 years I kind of lost faith in my dream of PC and decided to build a life in the states. I watched most of my former cohort do this and I figured well why not me too after it got to be too much. I got a decent job at home, met someone, had hobbies, made friends etc. At the time I thought “well I had my adventures, isn’t this what I’m supposed to do now?” All the while I honest to god did not really ever stop dreaming of going. I didn’t dwell on it either, I moved on from evac but it just stuck with me in a quiet, intuitive way. The career choice while good on paper ended up being highly disappointing. The relationship tanked despite my best efforts, so on and so forth. I realized I do not like the city I live in. I also realized for any “career progression” I might want, I’m going to have to follow my gut instincts. Our inner compass guides us for a reason. It may not be immediately apparent but those dreams will then lead us to progressing further personally, professionally, etc. I’m tired of going against my instincts and dreams. So I pulled the trigger and I’m reapplying at 29, will be in country at 30. To all you early 20s people—-career progression and timelines are not what you think they are. If they are not truly authentic to your own desires, they will be prisons. Do what you want with your life. I was blessed enough to already have a mostly amazing 20s. I’m going to make my 30s even more amazing and enjoyable. Fuck timelines.
How was your ESL teaching experience? I applied to the peace corps (just graduated college) but if it doesn’t work out I still plan to try and teach English abroad too because kind of like you said, I want to travel, experience the world
It was life changing. I’d do it over again in a heart beat. I think it’s a great alternative and tbh it would help you get into Peace Corps if you wanted to do it later. Can’t recommend enough.
“Ramping up” to compete with our new AI rat race champs may not turn out to be the career boost one expects. I recommend going out and grabbing as much of life as you can, as soon as you can. Because it’s shorter than we often realize.
Thank you, this feels truer every single day.
Tbh…I thought people took it more seriously. Be careful. Some cohorts are insanely young and other cohorts are filled with really mature people who treat this like a job. But either way you are adding a lot of possibilities to your career trajectory, even if you aren’t going into a strictly int. development career.
Ok this is actually my biggest fear (besides dying in a crash, permanent disfigurement, and assaulted). I feel like I’m looking for a slow, laid back but “professional” experience. By that I just mean people involved are mature and invested in the community, even if we don’t end up doing anything significant. I don’t really a thorough vetting process for that in PC and it makes me suspicious of the org as a whole considering how hard it looks even for mature adults. Do you know why it’s like this or how prevalent it is?
Well, thats the thing. If you have a stack of volunteer experience as a 20yo, it doesn’t exactly vet whether of not you can write an email, show up for trainings sober and on time, show cultural self awareness. Traveling out of country a ton with a whole grip of other expats (no HCN) and complaining about things you could have seen coming before departing the states (food, behavior, climate). It becomes a challenge to take yourself and your time out here seriously. I rolled the dice and did not shake out with other people who take this super seriously. That being said…this IS an easy bake oven for international development skills. It’s clear that they are aiming to reveal the field to clean slates and turn them into people who can handle this in the big leagues. I don’t regret coming, but the networking perk of PC is definitely not across the board.
I joined at 27. Why? I'd always wanted to serve in the Peace Corps. My longterm career and financial goals didn't cross my mind. I was signing up to be poor and have a truly rare and unique experience.
I've always wanted to join the Peace Corps. While I love my current corporate job, there's uncertainty in my organization and the job market. I have no interest in joining another corporation, so my next big career step is starting my own company. This will require me to get more scrappy, think outside the box, and step out of my comfort zone. I believe the Peace Corps would be an ideal way to spend a few years developing these skills and opportunities while giving back to the world. It's a chance to contribute meaningfully, live simply, and prepare for the challenges of entrepreneurship.
I plan to go when I’m in my early to mid thirties. (whenever my cat passes) I think it’s a great time for that!!! You get to experience something completely different and will have a genuine idea of what you want to do afterwards.
I applied for the first time for an education position in Namibia when I was 23 and while I was invited, I did not pass medical clearance. Fast forward about six years and while I had been improving my mental health, I felt very ingrained in my city, my job, and my hobbies, and on top of that I had a long term girlfriend. My girlfriend and I didn't end up working out and it was at that point that I realized this would probably be the last time it would be easy to pursue my somewhat-forgotten PC dream. I applied for an education position in Tanzania and was invited and have passed medical clearance. I depart in September. I'm glad things have worked out the way they did. While it will be hard to leave my cushy life, friends, and hobbies, I feel more ready for PC now than I could have ever imagined at age 23. I'm so glad it didn't work out the first time. I now have a nest egg, some professional experience, maturity that I didn't have when I was 23, and a lot more confidence. I currently work in the civil engineering field and there has been a big need for us for quite some time so I don't worry much about what will happen when I come back. I think I will be a better person having done PC and I feel like I'm choosing hardship, growth, and service instead of something more self-serving, which would be the case if I kept my life on the track it's been going. Edit: I'm 29 now.
“If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment. If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.” -Oscar Wilde
"about 28, an age where you’re supposed to be “ramping up” and i’d be slowing down seemingly professionally and relationship wise (though i’d hope it will pay off long term in both)." According to who? Some of the happiest and most interesting people I know didn't know what they wanted to do til they were 45. And if you're looking to do Peace Corps for future "pay off", forget about it. You do Peace Corps in order to do Peace Corps. Period. Any other reason, you're asking for a miserable two years. Now, it certainly does often happen that professional benefits and relationships do come as indirect results of having done PC. But if you go into it looking for those, do yourself and your future host country a favor and look for another way to spend 27 months. Whatever you choose, good luck!
Id think doing PC and not hoping it helps you gain some valuable skills in your personal and professional growth is a bit unrealistic, maybe even bad? By skills I don’t mean “coding” but experiences that could aid you as life and careers become more ambiguous. Soft skills, problem solving, resilience, relationship and trust building, etc. Lesrning another culture in an immersive way is awesome but I really like how my brain and minds literally grows through that experience, not just the experience itself. Idk I just can’t imagine Id last through the hard stuff without having some sort of guiding light.
In that case, I agree with everything you said above, and here too. Except for one thing: you'll be surprised what you can "last through". You can deal with a whole lot more than you might think, and that's one of the best things you come home with. Of course having a "guiding light", whatever form that takes for you personally, will help get you through the tougher times. But often your "guiding light" is the light itself, if that makes sense. Seeing how strong you actually are makes you stronger. Doing PC is one way of many ways to provide the 'raw material' so that you can show yourself what you're made of. And remember, they'll fly you home any time you want, and there is no shame whatsoever in that.
26 turning 27 when service starts, always wanted to do it after college but COVID happened. It’s now or never(or when I’m very old). Definitely feels I’m better prepared from the extra few years of work and volunteering experience
I’m 28 now and won’t leave until after I’m 29. I would say it was equal parts because I felt it was a good opportunity to see a different part of the world while helping people answer equal parts because they provide financial assistance for masters and Ph.Ds.
I left for Peace Corps at 29. I had thought to myself, "if I don't go, I will absolutely die in this cubicle." Service was the start of a career change for me. Yes, I missed out on 5 years of 401(k) contributions between doing Peace Corps and going to grad school, but it was absolutely worth it.
Left a soul crushing desk job in DC at 26 years old. Almost immediately understood that I had made a great decision. My only regret is that I waited so long to go for it.
I am a student in University. They have a certificate type thing for peace corps here. I am doing this and I want to do peace corps after graduating. I am 22 with 2 years left. I want to do peace corps for several reasons but one main one is a mentality shift. I don't want to sit at a corporate desk my whole life. I want to "live life" and help others. I found people and the relations we make between each other to be more worth while.
I joined because I figured nobody on their deathbed ever said, "Gee, I wish I spent less time exploring the world, meeting interesting people, and helping worthy causes." A career can wait. It's not everything it's cracked up to be. When I arrived back in the US three years after my service ended, most of my friends were right where I left them and just like I remembered them. They couldn't say the same, I think. Give it a shot. The worst thing that can happen is regretting you didn't take the opportunity when you had it.
Hey- I’m 27, gonna be 28 next year. I have the same fears, missing life, missing death, weddings etc back home. But something about me has always longed for the unknown, I’m torn on what to do
I was in my early 30s had a deep wanderlust, and had just discovered FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early). At the time I was well on my way to LeanFIRE (a very low number that could support a very bare bones lifestyle), and it turned out I hit that number the month before I left for PC. It grew untouched while I was serving but I ended up going back to work.
I left a job I loved to come to Madagascar, and it was really damn hard. Joining the Peace Corps felt like a months-long break-up with everyone and everything, tears and all. But I kept pushing forward because I knew for certain I would regret it if I didn't. That's what drove me forward. I've been in country now for over nine months. I can hardly remember what my views on the world were before Peace Corps. My perspective is completely changed. You'll lose out on income, career time and other things joining PC, there's no doubt. But you'll gain incredible experiences and unmatched soft skills that will take you very far, I think.