Not sure what to expect!
July 27th, 2006 by jenny.So my medical packet should be ready to pass in within the next few weeks! I am excited but I know that there is going to be quite a wait. I have been doing some research and I think that I am starting to freak myself out. I read that last year (2005) 11,000 people roughly applied to enter the peace corp but only 7,000 were accepted! I have never in all my life wanted something so badly before and I fear that I might get rejected! Any advice? I have a nomination in Environmental/Forestry for Latin/South America estimated departure date of May 2007, I have two years of volunteer wrok with MassPIRG but I am not sure that that is enough for them to accept me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make but resume stronger for them? I want this so badly and hopefully the wait doesn’t kill me =) I know that I can do it’s just that those little doubts that are in the way back of my mind are creeping forward…not doubts about going doubts that they won’t want me!!!!
July 27th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Hi Jenny. My name’s Katy, an RPCV who served in South Africa from 2003 to 2005.
First things first…breathe in, breathe in…repeat often. You are going to be totally fine. I’m sure as long as there is no major medical concern, they will accept you. I had cornea problems right before I went to SA and I was still accepted. I was placed in SA because they have medical facilities that could help me in case of an emergency. I only had to go to the doc for yearly check-ups.
As far as your volunteer work goes, I volunteered in a lot of little projects during college, although nothing as significant as your two years with MassPIRG, and I had no official acceptance. It’s really no big deal.
Jenny, the PC has these requirements to make sure 1.)you are physically capable of handling the job and 2.) that your heart is in the right place as a volunteer. Please don’t worry about it. As long as you have a passion to serve, they would be crazy not to choose you. Breathe it out and relax. Turn in the paperwork as soon as you can and you’ll be good to go before you know it.
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or even check out my blog at http://www.peacecorpskate.blogspot.com. I only just started it, but it’s from the seven journals I wrote while away. Check it out and drop a line if that panic attack resurfaces. :o) Good luck, Jenny!