Peace Corps
Launching Careers and Inspiring Lives

Building irrigation systems in remote villages-giving small business owners the tools they need to maximize their profits-promoting HIV/AIDS awareness to help combat one of the world's most rampant diseases-teaching children how to use computers and incorporate information technology to enhance their education experience. These are just a handful of the projects some 182,000 Peace Corps volunteers have been working on in 138 countries throughout the past forty-five years.

Although you're just embarking on college now, the next several years of your life are bound to fly by in the blink of an eye. It's never too soon to think about what you'll do next. Some of you may have life-long dreams of becoming an engineer, a health care worker, an entrepreneur, or a teacher. But what if you could have that dream and apply those skills by volunteering in a foreign country to help people in another part of the world thrive while you promote a much-needed positive image of America abroad?

The Peace Corps offers opportunities for you to spend two years helping others in one of six areas: education, youth outreach and community development, business development, environment and agriculture, health and HIV/AIDS, and information technology.

Being accepted into the Peace Corps takes planning and determination: of the 11,638 applications the agency received last year, only 4,055 became volunteers. Peace Corps recruiters look for bright, well-rounded individuals from all different backgrounds who can bring a wide variety of experiences to their service. Although ninety-six percent of today's volunteers have a four-year college degree, there are also opportunities for individuals with an associate degree.

If you think you might want to head down the Peace Corps path after you graduate, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Start volunteering now. Volunteering doesn't need to be a fulltime commitment; every little bit counts. Soup kitchens always need volunteers. School-age children need tutors. And across the nation, there are dozens of 5Ks and marathons that raise money for diseases and causes. Whether it's volunteering on a spring break trip to build homes in Guatemala or donating clothes and food to local shelters, find a way to get out there and leave your mark.

Study a foreign language. If you've never studied a foreign language, now is the time to start learning. While the Peace Corps provides language training for all volunteers, it never hurts to have a head start. Language skills help place volunteers in specific parts of the world, and fluency offers a competitive advantage in a new culture.

Be involved on campus. Participate in campus organizations and activities like student government, intramural sports and clubs. In these organizations, demonstrate that you can be a team leader. Often volunteers are working on projects side-by-side with host country nationals; they must be self-motivated and exude strong leadership qualities.

Study abroad. Not everyone can take time out of their college career or afford to study in a foreign country, so if you don't think a full semester abroad will be feasible, consider a summer abroad program or do independent traveling to see the world through different eyes.

Often, Peace Corps service is a career launching-pad. When volunteers return to the U.S., many begin careers in the federal government, the non-profit sector, or the international development field. Some even return years later for another round, having garnered new expertise throughout their career paths. The options are boundless, and having Peace Corps service on your resume can open many new doors. As the Peace Corps slogan says, Life is calling.how far will you go?

If you are interested in learning more about Peace Corps service, talk to a recruiter at 800.424.8580 or visit www.peacecorps.gov.

Editorial provided by Melissa Marion, press relations specialist at Peace Corps. Prior to her current position, she served as the communications coordinator at a trade association in the energy industry and, before that, taught English in El Salvador. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University and an M.A. in Public Communication, also from American University.