Rooted in Service, Driven by Purpose: The Beginning of My Peace Corps Journey
When I was little, my world felt small but full. Family dinners around the table, neighborhood walks, a community where everyone knew your name. As I grew older, that small-town upbringing instilled in me two things: a deep appreciation for connection and an unshakable belief that communities thrive when people care for one another.
I first realized I had a heart for service in middle school, when my best friend’s mom invited us to help lead our school’s Relay for Life event. We organized activities, read the names of luminary honorees, and did our best to bring a little energy and heart to the day. But what stayed with me most wasn’t just what we did — it was what came next.
She invited us to a larger community Relay hosted at the local state university. The moment I stepped into that gymnasium, I felt it — the energy was palpable. Students, survivors, loved ones, and volunteers gathered under one roof, united by hope and action. That day, I saw what it meant to belong to something bigger than yourself. I remember thinking: this matters.
That moment lit a spark in me — and it’s that same spark, fanned by years of community work and personal growth, that’s guiding me toward one of the most meaningful chapters of my life.
In just a few weeks, I’ll be boarding a plane to North Macedonia to begin my service as a Peace Corps Community Economic Development Volunteer. This dream has been years in the making — shaped by a quiet pull I’ve always felt toward service, and a growing desire to understand the world more fully.
Why I’m Joining the Peace Corps
For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt called to contribute — to show up for others and to be part of something purposeful. I just never quite knew what that would look like. Over time, I’ve come to realize that the kind of leader I want to be — and the kind of life I want to lead — requires more than good intentions. It takes humility, curiosity, and a willingness to sit in the unknown.
There are many ways to make a difference, but I’ve always been drawn to service that asks for depth. The Peace Corps embodies that. It is not a quick project or a short visit. It is a long-term commitment to learning, listening, and working alongside local communities to create sustainable change.
And more than anything, it’s a commitment to growth — both in community and within myself.
I want to become a globally conscious leader, someone who can enter unfamiliar spaces with empathy, cultural awareness, and deep respect. I want to push my own boundaries, grow more comfortable in my independence, and learn to navigate the world with both courage and care.
If I’m being honest, my passion for service has always been a constant — but my capacity to show up fully hasn’t. Life gets busy. Even when I’m working in roles that center people and impact, the rhythm of everyday demands can dull that deeper presence. There have been moments when I didn’t show up the way I wanted to — when I let distraction or doubt pull me away from the kind of connection I value most.
This next chapter is a conscious return to what matters. It’s about creating space for presence, purpose, and partnership — not just in moments of ease, but in the slow, steady rhythm of everyday life. It’s a chance to live more intentionally, to grow into the kind of person I want to be, and to lead with the values that guide me.
What I’ll Be Doing in North Macedonia
As a Community Economic Development Volunteer, my role will be to support local organizations, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in strengthening their capacity to achieve their goals. This might include:
- Small Business Support – Helping entrepreneurs develop business plans, improve marketing, and manage finances.
- Community Projects – Collaborating on initiatives that promote economic growth, such as tourism development, youth skill-building, or local craft cooperatives.
- Capacity Building – Offering training in project management, grant writing, or digital tools to strengthen the sustainability of community-led efforts.
It’s not about “fixing” things. It’s about walking alongside others, asking what’s needed, and co-creating solutions that reflect the strengths already present in the community.
What Comes Next
Before official service begins, I’ll go through three months of pre-service training in language, cultural integration, and technical skills. I’ll live with a host family during this time — my first real window into everyday life in North Macedonia.
After training, I’ll move to my permanent site, a community where I’ll live and work for the next two years. I don’t yet know what my day-to-day will look like — and that’s part of the beauty of it. What I do know is that success won’t be measured by flashy results, but by relationships built, knowledge shared, and the trust that grows over time.
When my service is complete, I hope to bring these lessons home — to continue growing a career rooted in public service, development, and diplomacy. But for now, I’m focused on this next step: showing up fully, learning deeply, and giving generously.
An Invitation to Join Me
This journey is not mine alone. I’ll be sharing stories from the field — the triumphs, the challenges, and the everyday moments that make Peace Corps service so unique.
My hope is that these reflections will spark curiosity, foster connection, and maybe even encourage someone else to say “yes” to their own path of service.
So here we go. A new chapter. A new country. And a return to the part of myself that believes change is possible — that connection is everything — and that real service happens one relationship at a time.
Rooted in service, driven by purpose. Let’s see where this takes us.
With heart,
