COS

I lived in the same house for my entire childhood growing up in California. On the wall of our kitchen there are four matching blue tiles that my mom brought back from a trip to Copahagen. My favorite tile says, "He that lets the small things bind him, leaves the great undone behind him".

I always thought the phrase was the perfect advice to give to a PCV. Even though being a Peace Corps volunteer is the hardest thing that I've ever done (which maybe isn't saying much because I'm only 24), it was the best thing that I've ever done. I learned more in the past two years that I ever could have learned staying in a classroom setting. But it was hard. Really hard. People yelling whitey at me everyday, not to mention the living alone in village for two years thing. But reading over my description of service statement, I feel really good about all of my classes and projects, and I'll never be able to forget my students, friends and colleagues.

So, tomorrow night I'll get on the plane to go back to America, and hopefully someone, somewhere, will give me a job. I'm nervous about all of the things I have to do when I get back, but maybe I should heed my own advice.

If you're thinking about joining the Peace Corps, I would say go for it. Just know that the road of being a PCV is not for the faint of heart, perseverance is key, and you may not feel that you're having an impact. But you will. You will help develop a country by aiding people who receive very little of the aid that comes from international organizations. You will change their ideas about americans. But most importantly you will change yourself. You will mature and develop as a person, and leave your country of service with a new perspective on life that very few americans have. I can't imagine a better way to change your life and other people's lives.