<p>"Has anybody besides me considered going into the Peace Corps after graduation from college? perhaps before graduate school, I might like to take that final opportunity of living my youth in another nation helping others. </p>
<p>Am I the only one who shares this idea?"</p>
<p>…
Let me reply you with my story, I followed a very similar path:</p>
<p>Last year I couldn’t go to college cause of money issues, I was pretty darn depressed.
However, my senior year I started out filling random applications to random Programs abroad for medicine preparation, community service, and what not.</p>
<p>I received an invitation to join a 1-year volunteer medical opportunity.
The program consisted of seminars, classes, practices in basic medicine to prepare me and the other dudes of rural-medicine.</p>
<p>Rural-medicine is basically when you go to really poor areas (for me in Mexico) where people don’t have medical care. We provide medicines, basic health care check-ups (like for type II diabetes, hypertension, prevention on chronic diseases, etc.)
We also give food, clothes, and sometimes even personal help.</p>
<p>Sounds wonderful on the outside but it’s tougher than it sounds.</p>
<p>Volunteering is Not all that fun, you get to see really sad things (like disabled people, people with really hard lives, etc.) And it gets a toll on your health (stress)</p>
<p>With that said, it is a very humanitarian work. You get the true meaning of helping someone that u just don’t get in school or in America.
Helping out in places were they barely even see a doctor and then you show up feels really great; people appreciate your interest and you work on character.</p>
<p>That said, it is only for a year… in a few months (like 4) it’ll all be over.</p>
<p>That’s why I’m applying to colleges this year (UCs)
And I’m using this year I took to volunteer as my prompt for my personal statements.</p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend joining a volunteer program, you learn so MUCH, nothing that you can live in the States (no offense) it is just amazing.
Do beware though, it is stressful and very tiring, but it is all Worth it knowing you’re making a difference in this world.</p>
<p>:)</p>