<p>I'm strongly considering joining the Peace Corps after I get my BA...I think it would be a very enriching experience for numerous reasons, and am just curious if anyone else is entertaining the idea of joining the Peace Corps, CCS, Habitat for Humanity, or some sort of international/intensive volunteer program after graduating.</p>
<p>I'm also just looking for general input and feedback, especially if anyone has any extensive info or personal tales to share! : ) I've discussed the idea of joining with several friends and family members, and many of them seem to be somewhat disapproving of my plan, offering more cons than pros. That aside, I'm still very much interested in signing up!</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on taking off for a year or two to lend a helping hand? </p>
<p>If you aren't particularly interested in volunteer work, please feel free to share what your tentative plans are after you're done with all this fun undergrad stuff. :]</p>
<p>I’m doing this and I was actually talking to someone else about this on CC today!! I thing you should go for it! It will look great on grad school (or med school or whatever) applications and you will get to go out, see the world, and help people. Why would anyone be disapproving of that?</p>
<p>O and I want to go to USC med school when I’m done saving the world :)</p>
<p>I’ve also been looking into Programs like the Peace Corps. I believe it would be an amazing/humbling experience, but a whole 27 months intimidates me I would like to focus on Youth/Community development simply because I love helping others especially children I guess the deciding factor would be my grandparents state of health, my grandparents mean the world to me and I would hate for something to happen and be far away.<br> @MantisTobaggan I’m considering Law School too but after Peace Corps.</p>
<p>i think it is a great idea Kizzy, i approve of your idea. it will be a wonderful experience “taking off for a year or two to lend a helping hand” will help you get some perspective and will for sure give you a different view of the world. that alone in itself outweighs the cons…cons? do they disapprove because you wont be working?</p>
<p>we have our whole lives to work and to find a career…we don’t have youth, vigor or idealism our whole lives. you are young energetic and have it in your heart to do something meaningful, it will be an invaluable experience.</p>
<p>GOOOOOD idea!
And I may not be too far behind haha
I’ve been considering it myself IT seems like an awesome way to get out and see the world, help out communities in need, learn another language, and culture too :P</p>
<p>@shell–I didn’t even consider that it would add a nice touch to any grad school apps…how true! I fully agree, it is an awesome way to see the world and give us warm fuzzies inside at the same time while helping others. Haha. I think “saving the world” will give my life more/new meaning and bring about a great sense of self-fulfillment. We gotta do our part, right?! I dig your flow chart of save the world>go to med school>in turn, save the world more after completion of said schooling. : ) Good for you!</p>
<p>@leeuhh–A humbling experience indeed! I was just watching a video someone posted on youtube of their living quarters in Madagascar…definitely a modest living, for one thing. I am really looking forward to the broadened perspective I will gain. I hear you about the solid commitment and the limitations it might pose when it comes to family matters. That idea makes me a little nervous too, but I guess it’s the risk you take when you join. I have heard there are a few other organizations out there that are a bit more flexible with the length of the stay…I’m still researching, comparing and contrasting, though. I think your interest in youth/community development is rad! You will be making an impact on people’s lives regardless, but you can really make your mark on kids and leave a lasting impression with them…what a great feeling! :]</p>
<p>@jane–Thank you for your input and encouragement, sistah! You are so right!! I just have this gut feeling that it’s something I really need to do. The changed perspective and the gratification it will bring definitely outweigh the cons. I think my parents are mostly concerned for my safety, and other people have just brought up the fact that when I finish I will still have college loans to pay off, won’t really have made much progress in the working world, etc. Oh, and I have a feeling my Mom wants grandkids in the next five years, and she sees this as more of a delay in me “starting a family”…hahah. But to be honest, I’m really not too worried about any of those things…I mean, safety is always important, but unfortunately, there is crime just about everywhere on this planet, so it’s just another accepted risk I would have to take. And though I will be super poor when I get out, I think the PC gives you around a $7k stipend to at least get back on your feet and re-adjust to spoiled America. lol. So that’s better than nothin’! I also read something about potential loan deferment if you join…I’m really not seeing a downside here…haha. </p>
<p>@Jer–You should totally look into it! Great way to practicar tu espa</p>
<p>kizzy- yeah the safety thing. well you will be with a group, a legitimate group, so that part is fine…humanitarianism is respected in all parts of the world, but try to aim for places with decent freedom ratings… reporters without boarders have freedom of press ratings of each country so you can see the stats and maybe that will help ease your parents mind a bit…if you tell them where you are going has a good/ decent rating.
[url=<a href=“http://en.rsf.org/safety-of-journalists.html]Reporters”>http://en.rsf.org/safety-of-journalists.html]Reporters</a> Sans Fronti</p>
<p>janey, that reporters without borders site is great and I have a feeling it will come in very handy! Thank you for the link!! :)</p>
<p>I feel the same way with the baby business…my mom was married at 20 and had three kids by the time she was 28…I am not even on that PAGE yet! haha. To each her own, right? I like your rebuttal about wanting to live a little first and then putting the pressure on the other siblings…hahah! Testifyyy!</p>
<p>As for the money thing, I think it’s just a given for a lot of students, that if you choose to go to college, you’re going to have some debts to pay off when you’re finished…so whatev. And you’re right, we have all the time in the world to play financial catch up, so I’m not going to stress over it. Like they say, when you do what you love, the money will follow.</p>
<p>Operation Follow My Gut has been initiated! </p>
<p>AmeriCorps alumnus checking in! I LOVED my time in the corps after I graduated high school, and fully intend to return after I graduate from UCLA! ;)</p>
<p>I worked for City Year Los Angeles, tutoring 5th graders in Pico-Union, and other various forms of service in Watts, Boyle Heights, and South LA. I worked primarily at the elementary school, and loved every day of it. I am looking up at my wall right now, and seeing the panoramas I was included in (you know, those ones from elem. school!) At the end of the year, City Year has a huge conference known as CyZyGy, and every corps member from all 20 sites in the US and South Africa (and now London, too,) comes together and takes over a city (my year it was Boston) and spends the whole day doing community service. There was also an awards ceremony, and my team of 5 won “Outstanding After School Program” and our school $10,000. It was such an amazing experience, especially as an 18 year old who didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life!</p>
<p>Evan, that is so cool! I was looking into AmeriCorps, as well! Good for you for helping out so young! I bet it was very rewarding. :)</p>
<p>City Year sounds like an amazing program, too! Although I see they do have an age limit, so I guess I’d have to sign up for that one stat.</p>
<p>I wish I knew about these programs when I was in high school/right after graduating. Thank you for the info…I will probably take you up on your offer and ask you some more questions in the future! : )</p>
<p>A close friend of mine graduated from USC and did Teach for America in LA for two years. She’s now in medical school. Two other people I know joined the Peace Corps. One of them just graduated from dental school and the other one is getting a masters in Public Health right now. From what I’ve seen and heard, it definitely doesn’t hurt to take off for two years and volunteer. You might never get the chance to do it again and it won’t set you back on your goals.</p>
<p>I’m glad you guys are alive! I also want to join this humble experience before entering grad school , it seems like a fun and rewarding experience!</p>
<p>Americorps is an excellent decision especially if you do not want to have such a long commitment. I also am an americorps alumni. I did NCCC which is it’s own branch of americorps although it only makes up about 2% of all the programs. Check out the Website americorps.gov read there you can do a search to look for all sorts of programs. I think NCCC is the best especially if you do not have a lot of money. Read the faqs and feel free to Pm me. I have online journals and pictures all over the internet from my experience.</p>
<p>I’m looking at Teach for America and the Peace Corps right now… But who knows, I could just enter the workforce and be another cog in the machine if i play my cards right.</p>
<p>Aww, that’s unfortunate. Do you think there’s any way you could appeal? Your past experience with the AmeriCorps program sounds really exciting. (A friend of mine was a City Hero back in high school and enjoyed it immensely–I thought it sounded pretty good, too).</p>
<p>I’d like to do a Sr. Corps year with City Year (either in LA, Seattle, New York, DC, or Boston [not too picky],) and then work as staff. It’ll all be good. :)</p>
I would like to focus on Youth/Community development simply because I love helping others especially children 
I guess the deciding factor would be my grandparents state of health, my grandparents mean the world to me and I would hate for something to happen and be far away.<br>
That idea makes me a little nervous too, but I guess it’s the risk you take when you join. I have heard there are a few other organizations out there that are a bit more flexible with the length of the stay…I’m still researching, comparing and contrasting, though. I think your interest in youth/community development is rad! You will be making an impact on people’s lives regardless, but you can really make your mark on kids and leave a lasting impression with them…what a great feeling! :]</p>
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