Peace Corps Service: The Next Chapter

Today, I finally stepped foot onto a plane that took me my first few steps into this new journey. Today, I began my next chapter. 

I left for Washington, DC from Longview, TX early this morning, where I headed off to meet the rest of the MM5 cohort for staging. Staging is a pre-departure event where all trainees come together to review some basic information and get to know one another before departing for Myanmar together. We will review health, safety, security, and we will openly share our anxieties of transitioning to a new country for two years. But this event is brief, and in the blink of an eye we will be hauling our excessive amounts of luggage through the hotel lobby and airport as we prepare to expect the unexpected in this new journey.

As I said goodbye to my parents at the airport, I felt a mixture of emotions flood me all at once. I was sad, scared, anxious, and very excited. I was also feeling some regret for all the weight I was determined to cram into my carry-on duffel.

It was a little bit overwhelming to feel so many different emotions concurrently. An opportunity I had dreamed about for more than a decade was finally happening, but my stomach was in knots and I suddenly felt nauseous.

But those who know me well, know that I am intensely stubborn and not one to run from a challenge in the name of fear, overwhelmed feelings, or a possibility of failure. In fact, all those things seem to drive me further in pushing through. I had spent years researching, learning, and enhancing my coping skills in preparation for this. I knew that no matter how tough things got, how frustrated, exhausted, or anxious I felt, there was no possibility that I would not get on that plane and head off to fulfill my 27 months of service.

This quote always resonates with me: “twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do”. For a long time I was afraid to take chances, out of fear. I said no, a lot, and I missed out on opportunities for personal growth. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that fear is only a fleeting obstacle that can be surpassed. The sense of accomplishment, wonder and growth that forge from our mistakes, failures, losses, and success is far too precious to withhold from yourself. Embrace fear, and channel it to fuel you.

In 20 years, I know that when I look back on the events that have occurred in my life, no matter how challenging this experience will inevitably be, I will be grateful to have been given and taken this opportunity to serve with the Peace Corps.