Finally, after carefully finishing my application, my interview  is tomorrow! I wish I’d found this website earlier…

I have a problem. I had a history of depression not long ago. I was diagnosed with Major Depression on Feb. 2009. Back then, I came back from a volunteering cycling ride from Texas to Alaska for 70 days for cancer research. When I came back, it was very hard for me to adjust to the city life and more importantly, I just had experienced heaven, it was hard for me to live my old life. I wanted to quickly finish school (I’m a premed) and go out to the world and help people. It all kind of added up and I was having a devastating semester. So I decided something was wrong with me and I checked myself into a psychiatrist office for help. I took that semester off so that I could concentrate on the therapy. I did my best to get out of the situation.

In the meanwhile, man, I learned A LOT about myself. I was actually grateful that I went through it because it became one of my lifechanging moments. Since then, my attitude towards me completely changed, and I’ve never been depressed for the last 6 months or so.

In the application I remember checking the box for the visit to a therapist. But I left the box for “other mental health issues” blank. I was confused about the question + Afraid of the rejection.

I decided to call the headquarters to tell them that I had been diagnosed with depression two days later I submitted everything. But my friend told me a story of an applicant who was rejected because she had a history of depression.

I have been waiting for my whole 5 years of college life to become a Peace Corps Volunteer before I go to the med school. I ardently desire to become one.

Some people say, lie about it. Some people say tell the truth (I’m pretty sure I will be rejected for my medical issue). I know I won’t be able to lie about it. I will tell the truth. But I can’t get rid of the feeling that I will be rejected when I subjectively look at my not long ago experience with depression.

What do I do? I am going to tell the truth, but I feel like I need to get ready for the rejection and appeals…

p.s. When I’m abroad or volunteering, I DIDN’T BECOME DEPRESSED AT ALL! I always used to be the happiest kid in those abroad volunteering experiences.

This past week the website suffered a failure during a software upgrade. Users were unable to view the website or tell their story.

I apologize. I believe I have resolved the issue.

The outage does make me wonder if the website still serves a useful purpose to the Peace Corps community.

It has been more than five years ago that I developed the site to make it easy for Peace Corps volunteers to share their story with others (the third goal of the Peace Corps). By serving as a community blog for many volunteers, the site has enjoyed a lot of traffic and exposure, helping many visitors learn about the Peace Corps experience from the perspective of volunteers actively in the field.

But in the past year, fewer Peace Corps volunteers are using ThirdGoal.com to write about their experiences. So I ask of you, is ThirdGoal.com still of value? In what ways could it be more useful? Or has its time passed and should it be shut down?

Thank you for your feedback.

Jason Pearce ThirdGoal.com Owner/Creator

Well my invitation should be arriving any day now, my online peace corps profile tells me that they have made a placement decesion.  I was nominated to leave in September for the South Pacific.

So for now I’m just working at a bank and trying to pay off my debt until September.  I feel like a character from Office Space.

I guess I’m going to have to work this Saturday (again)…  I can’t complain too much, because it’s a job and it pays the bills.

I spent 2006-2008 in Palau, a Pacific island nation that is no more than a tiny dot on a world map but has left a much more significant mark on my heart and who I am.   I could not attempt to describe my experience in a simple blog, but if you do want to hear more, just let me know – I could write for hours about it.

I now work for Youth For Understanding, a nonprofit high school exchange organization.  Knowing that RPCV’s and other Peace Corps enthusiasts are excited about intercultural exchange opportunities, I am posting this as an invitation for you to consider hosting an international exchange student this coming school year. YFU hosts students from over 60 countries around the world, including from several predominantly Muslim countries as part of a specific outreach to bridge the gap between the United States and the Muslim world.  If you are interested in finding out more about welcoming an enthusiastic international teenager into your heart and home, please email me at achochrek@yfu.org.  If you know anybody who would benefit from this type of cultural exposure, please share this information with them.  It is a great way to live out the third goal of helping Americans understand the world beyond our borders.    I hope to hear from you!

www.yfu-usa.org

I am currently in a three year relationship and wanted to chat with anyone else out there that has had a relationship experiance while being away at the Peace Corps….I don’t want him to be the thing that holds me back because in the long run, two years away is not that long!

Also, I am very, very close with my family and the thought of leaving them for so long makes me kind of sad. There are ways to communicate correct? Depending on where you go?

Thank you and help me ease my crazy mind!