Sharing Our Motivation for Joining the Peace Corps
A Couple Currently Serving in Morocco
My Motivation Statement
When I was 16 years old, I had the opportunity to spend one week volunteering with various non-profit organizations in San Francisco, California. As this was one of my first true volunteer experiences, it left the longest lasting impression. As I handed a younger gentleman living with HIV/AIDS a bag of groceries while volunteering at Project Open Hand, he said softly, “Thank you so much. You just made my day.” At the time, a bag of groceries was something that I took for granted. Although my interaction with this man was brief, it made me realize that my actions, although small, could have a tremendous impact on other people’s lives. Similarly, it helped me grasp the concept that, if I truly made an effort to help others going forward, the amount of positive work that could be done would be immense. Moments like this are part of the reason why I want to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I went on to volunteer in Caguas, Puerto Rico and Dobroč, Slovakia teaching English to young adults in local communities, volunteering as an assistant high school and volleyball coach in San Marcos, California and Nottingham, England, and working with youth as a Summer Camp Instructor in the San Diego area.
I am passionate about traveling, particularly learning about other cultures. From September 2016 to June 2017 while I pursued my master’s degree at the University of Nottingham, my wife and I were extremely fortunate to travel to over 14 countries, including Morocco. For ten days, we traveled throughout the country and immersed ourselves in the culture by paying respect to mosques, eating different types of food, and trying our hardest to communicate using the basics of Moroccan Arabic. From Marrakesh and Fes to Casablanca and Rabat, we saw and heard about the challenges facing youth in the country and the drastic need for volunteer assistance. For my wife and me, there is no better way to serve and give back to the country that we fell in love with. As Youth Development Specialists we can have a direct and positive impact on the next generation of leaders in Morocco and assist them so that the potential they possess, can be realized and flourish.
Having been together for over seven years, my wife and I have overcome different obstacles, one of them being moving to England and living there for nearly a year. Although this decision was challenging, it was made easier because of the support that we provide each other and the support that we receive from our families. We have grown accustomed to spending time away from family, visiting and living in other countries, and adapting to and respecting various cultures. As we begin the next phase of our lives and continue to grow as a couple, we would be honored to be selected to represent the Peace Corps and the United States in Morocco.
Jacquie’s Motivation Statement
Working with children and young adults is not only an interest of mine, but something that I have a deep-rooted passion for. Since I am the eldest of three children, it seemed natural to grow up not only taking care of my siblings, but all of the children in the neighborhood. These aspects were an integral part of why I pursued a degree to better understand how society works, why I enjoy taking care of children and adults, and why I love to assist people who are currently unable to help themselves. When my husband brought up the idea to join the Peace Corps together, I thought it would be a perfect way to combine all of our passions. I felt as if being cultural ambassadors is what we are meant to do and where we belong. Since we have traveled to Morocco, I have frequently found myself thinking about the possibility of going back, to not only further submerge ourselves in their culture and customs, but to have a positive impact.
With my bachelor’s degree in Criminology and minors in Sociology and Psychology, my desire to learn more about people, communities, and cultures is endless. Given the fact that my Criminology courses were categorized as Sociology courses, I was able to expand my knowledge of social interactions, patterns of relationships, and how cycles of actions perpetuate from one generation to the next. In learning about these cycles, I found myself wondering about how these principles are displayed on a global scale. I wanted to look beyond the classroom setting and see first hand how these concepts are applied and interact across the globe.
In 2016, my husband Dylan Thompson was given the opportunity to earn his master’s degree and play volleyball at the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England. In September 2016, we moved to England without a place to live and three suitcases in tow. We had the mindset that we could accomplish anything as long as we worked together and supported each other. In the ten months of living in England, we faced moments of emotional lows that helped us develop as individuals and as a couple. The most challenging moment during this time, and possibly of our entire lives, was when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2017. At the end of March, my mom endured a double mastectomy, which was harder to deal with than the diagnosis itself. Being 5,356 miles away, I felt hopeless that I was not able to physically help in her long recovery process. This lead me to step up to be emotionally supportive to not only my mom, but the rest of the family. Although these moments challenged me in ways that I did not know I could be tested, I found strength in my relationship with Dylan. These moments did not define us, but instead gave us the opportunity to grow. I believe that with any obstacle that we face while serving in the Peace Corps, we will be able to handle in a similar way and with similar mindsets.
To get travel tips and stories about our daily lives straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter!
If you enjoyed this story, please click the 👏 button and feel free to leave a comment below! For more about our Peace Corps service in Morocco:
Originally published at https://lankyadventure.com on April 29, 2019.
