Finding My Calling
April 8, 2009 4 Comments
Last week I wrote about where I thought my life would be in one year. The more I consider where I want my life to be even further down the road, the more I wonder if I am taking the right steps and making the right decisions.
I have always wanted to find a way to help make our world a better place to live. A few years ago I decided that the best option for me would be to join the Peace Corps. It was because of this goal that I enrolled in college in order to earn my Associate Degree. It has taken me longer than I had anticipated but today, finally, I stand at the threshold of accomplishing the first real goal in the journey I had hoped to find myself on one day. My future is almost here.
Nearly four years ago I enrolled in college with the idealist dream of saving the world by joining the Peace Corps but as this moment approaches I must ask myself if my goals today have changed from what they were back then. My life is no longer where it was at the beginning of this journey. I have other things and other people to take into consideration. I have to ask myself what is more important, school or service, establishing myself or recreating myself, a family or a village.
I know deep down in my heart that joining the Peace Corps is one life goal that will always remain in my heart. I have no doubt that I will want to become a part of this organization no matter how much time has passed.
The skills that I could learn while involved in the Peace Corps would prove an invaluable asset when searching for future careers. I will be able to become fluent in a foreign language and the experience alone will develop character. Not only do I want to be a part of the Peace Corps for the benefits to myself but I want to give back to the world in a direct way. By giving my life to the people of the world, if only for a short period of time, I will know that I played my part in helping make this world a better place. It isn’t something I can accomplish by donating money. While I know there are many local options to volunteer, it isn’t enough for me. A person can only do so much when they are being pulled by work or school and other responsibilities. The Peace Corps will allow my full attention towards volunteering.
So what about the plans I had last week about where I thought my life would be in a year? What concerns me the most is continuing my education as I would have to postpone school in order to join the Peace Corps. The minimum commitment time is more than 2 years. This seems like a long time to wait to enroll in a university but my current plan would still require a wait time of a year anyways as I intend to establish residency in the state which I will be attending school.
If I stick to my one year plan I would need to find work at our new location. I don’t think it will be much of a problem to find gainful employment however it will likely not be work which I am interested in pursuing a career. I do not have the experience or education to make me competitive in the workforce and by joining the Peace Corps I will gain a lot of experience and when I return I can further my education.
I know that if I wait to join the Peace Corps after I finish my Bachelor Degree that I will probably be in a place where I do not want to upset the circadian rhythm of life. At that point there will be talks of settling down, having children, buying houses, making career moves and Sunday afternoon Canasta gatherings. It would be much more difficult to uproot myself from my life then than it would be during a period of major transition.
Many of my goals work towards establishing a situation which would allow for an easy transition into the Peace Corps. I have been working toward eliminating any debts which I have and have been eliminating as much Stuff from my life in order to allow myself the freedom to make major life choices.
This is one of those choices and one which I will continue to pursue as time goes on.
About Steven
I read this and can’t help but wonder if everyone is at a cross roads in their life (my dilemma is to move to Colorado Springs, CO or northern California but also I need to figure out when I can do this).
It seems like the older we get the more decisions we have to make and the more serious the decisions are too. I think a lot of my personal situations are derived from the fact that I am impatient with life. I want to be done with school and find it painful that I am ready to move on but life has not caught up with me. I think it would also be convenient for someone that can predict the future to give me advice on a daily basis so that I don’t mess up.
I admire that you haven’t given up on your goal to be in the Peace Corp but rather you’re not sure of where to put into your life. If you can’t do it now I hope the passion to achieve this goal continues to grow. I have no doubt that someday all 100 things will be crossed off your list.
Best wishes.
My advice; follow your heart. Do whatever makes you happy. Don’t always try to rush through life in order to accomplish your goals. Remember this: Satisfaction is the death of desire. Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.
Dear Steven,
Here is some insight from a 63 year old, 37 days out from stepping on a plane to go to Miami and then on to Suriname, S.A. for 27 months in the Peace Corps.
You are right about one thing – life does get more complicated as you grow in years. I would never encourage someone to not go to college and gradaute. I did it the usual way – straight out of high school; four years later, a degree in journalism and a new husband who I supported while he completed his education.
Soon after graduating, he was in the service and one year later, on his way to Vietnam. At least, I did something adventurous and moved to Hawaii, where I worked as a journalist for one year.
Liffe became more complicated. He entered law school; I worked for a newspaper; he graduated; we had a daughter; I got laid off (twice); he struggled creating a practice; then, fell in love with his secretary and we divorced.
I continued work, pushing my dreams aside because I had a daughter to raise and did not have the luxury of doing what I wanted. It was an ongoing struggle but I was not resentful. I knew my time would come.
The best thing I did at that time was go back to school and get my masters. I could handle that and still work. Honestly, I always wanted to go back to school but feared that I would fail because it had been so long and I was “old” by most standards – in my 50s. At the time, it was the best thing I ever did. I loved and excelled at graduate school and my age was actually a positive. On the other hand, had I jumped in earlier and followed that dream, I would have continued for my Ph.D because I was then mature enough to really enjoy school. I was not in my 20s.
Like you, I had a calling to go into the Peace Corps, but once I started my life after graduating, there was never an appropriate time. Fortunately, I am healthy, so when the time came and I was free, once again, I applied.
One is never actually “free” from obligations, etc. In fact, my daughter is proud of my acceptance into the Peace Corps and excited for me, but she is stressed because I will be leaving her. That did not deter me, but I leave with somewhat of a heavy heart because of her anxiety. She understands though. and all is well within our world.
Bottom line, folloow your dreams and passions, especially when you are young and have less obligations. Life will never get easier.
As I see it, you have two options – finish your AA degree and apply or complete your BS/BS degree and then apply for the Peace Corps. If it is the latter, you might want to start the process the beginning of your senior year since it takes about 9 months to go through the ardurous process.
The Peace Corps will expose you to life and responsibilities you have not even imagined, so when you complete your service, you are in a great place for using those skills and experiences to start a new chapter. It also, I imagine, is a great backdrop for your wriiting.
Look into the masters program Peace Corps will assist you to obtain, upon completion of your 27 months.
I wish you well. You sound like a young person who is way ahead of the pack in determining your goals. I am sure that one way or another, you will make them happen. whether it is now or when you are 63 and free, once again, to follow your personal pathway.
Sincerely,
Julia
Thank you Julia for providing your insight. It is helpful to hear from someone know knows from experience.