Introduction
What is true selflessness? This inquiry often is neglected while one passes through a superficial life and introspectively convinces themselves that they are a positive influence on the world. It is becoming incredibly rare that we see charity in its authentic form. The Peace Corp is the closest that one can come to an experience as aforementioned. Personally, human welfare aid, charity, and volunteering are all activities that are familiar and paramount to existence. Therefore, the Peace Corps has always been a sincere interest in my life. Everyday we hear stories of those less fortunate then ourselves and hope that they can find some relief or aid in their struggle. Not only would the Peace Corps allow for aiding individuals for just the sake of doing it, but it also is a miniscule element of the organizations overall cause and goals. Being a part of this cause would be one of the most significant aspects in my life.
Past experiences and contribution to interest in Peace Corps
My past has much influence on my decision to join the Peace Corps. As an adolescent I was raised as a Christian and charity was introduced at a young age. Some of my fondest childhood memories were making sandwiches for the homeless and distributing them. The really significant element that at the time I did not realize until I was much older was that my church was not focused as much on spreading the word of the God, rather to serve as many of those in need as possible. Additionally, it never really mattered to me how the individual receiving help would react. Some would be upbeat and positive while others were negative and ungrateful. This meant nothing, it was the principle of helping others that was significant.
As I got older and became increasingly secular, due to churches harboring prejudices against certain groups of people, serving others was still a principal priority. Another special memory was volunteering at a charter school, where I did maintenance, painting, and general labor. This was probably my favorite experience that I had in relation to community service. It was the supporting of the youth who just wanted a chance for success. Many of the students at the school were foster participants or had parents that were addicted to narcotics. Although feeling good about yourself is what draws many people into community service, it really should not be the only thing. One must have a desire for the overall well being of everyone regardless of who they are.
Ability to cope with Peace Corps Rules
The Peace Corp’s expectations are intriguing and pertinent to the experience that is offered. For the most part, I feel comfortable with all the rules, believing that respect of those different to you is key in these types of interactions. Also, accountability for yourself as well as the representation of your country is critical. However, there are a couple of rules that will be challenging. The fourth rule seems like it could present issues in the beginning because if you are relocated to an area that you are unfamiliar with, it takes time to learn what that society values and how to act within. Additionally, it sometimes is difficult for one to communicate, bond, and create trust with newly introduced people. It will take time to cultivate this bond, but when it is achieved, there is so much that can be accomplished. I am ready for this arduous task and undertake it with a positive attitude. When new relationships are formed, it grants so much insight into others. Everyone is different, unique, and fascinating. Not everyone is ready to form new connections with others, and therefore patience is an attribute that must be utilized for this assignment. Hopefully the Peace Corps will grant this opportunity to me.
Experience where integration was necessary and skills acquired
Having experience is an important element to a Peace Corp’s assignment. Although I am sure there are many that volunteer inexperienced, they garner memories and experiences that will last them a lifetime. Personally, I have had a few experiences where I lived in communities different from where I was raised. The two that are the most memorable were living on a Native American reservation and staying with Buddhist monks in Tibet. Although the experience on the Native American reservation was amazing and significant in its own right, it also relayed many aspects of how the United States has failed to take care of the original inhabitants of America. However, living with Buddhist Monks in Tibet was exciting, fascinating, and enlightening. Individually, I am a Buddhist, although nowhere as strict as the monks that I saw during my experience. One of the things that really stayed with me is their discipline. When the word discipline is used, there is an abundant quantity of negative elements associated with the term. Living strict is not everyone’s idea of fun. The monks that I saw aided me in teaching that discipline is of the utmost importance if you want to truly be fulfilled in your life. It took quite a long time to get to this understanding.
When I first arrived, it was really quite different to what I was used to. Many of us like our creature comforts and although I was open minded and approached with positivity, it definitely was difficult to avoid them for the two weeks I was there. Additionally, I undertook this experience with a close friend who had a firm grasp on the primarily used language. Communicating was burdensome in the beginning but as time progressed, we learned from one another, and eventually formed wholesome relationships.
Another fantastic element about the experience was the integration into their daily routine. Since we wanted to have a genuine knowledge and participation in the life of a Buddhist monk, we adhered to their everyday schedule. It is amazing that individuals would dedicate their lives to a strict regiment, allowing for true understanding of the world around them. You really do not see that too often at the present. A lot of the strict Buddhist monk philosophy is only taking when something is offered. This applies to many of their beliefs and practices and really makes you astounded at their selflessness. Furthermore, these individuals that I spent time with were some of the happiest and kindest people that I had ever met. In fact, I envied their ability to cope with so many rigors and strain on a daily basis and keep such positive attitudes in all arenas of their life.
Conclusion
One of the most important aspects that I learned from my experience with the Buddhist monks was that the sacrifice for others is a key element to happy living. Although this can be difficult at times, making sure to do some type of selfless service is a way to attain some sort of peace. Furthermore, it really gave me experience on how to deal with situations out of my comfort zone and communication without language. The stay also allowed for the honing of acute sensitivity to other’s values. Etiquette, although not a primary focus in the Buddhist monk tradition, has quite expansive value. At times, I would find myself accidently going against what was considered polite, just because I did not know that it was frowned upon in the first place. It is valuable, in these situations to pick yourself back up and try as hard as you can to understand those around you. This is a skill that I will always keep and will be a priceless element to the integration on a Peace Corp’s assignment.