Aspiration Statement

Fighting for a cause simply creates more of a negative – fighting from two opposed sides. After gaining experience working with very effective non-profits like Support for International Change, Community Advocates for People’s Choice, and One Heart Source, I learned that you cannot help the world by focusing on the negative. But rather, effective solutions are born out of focused energy and collaboration of individuals united with a common action plan. I believe each one of us has the potential to bring hope into our world by standing up and making a difference using one’s own personal knowledge and experiences. I expect to use my attributes as a hard worker, motivator, leader, team-builder, and mediator – characteristics I have developed through previous activities ranging from volunteer advocacy work to academic research. In addition, I expect to use my theoretical knowledge of international development that I have gained from my Bachelors education in Geography and International Development Studies at UCLA. Bringing this energy and approach, the power to make an impact is immense. I am forever grateful for UCLA which has given me an excellent education and access to amazing opportunities. For example during my volunteer experience in East Africa with Support for International Change, I worked with many homeless children who faced extreme poverty daily and sexual assault nightly. The following summer, I worked in collaboration with Tanzanian leaders to build an education center, orphanage, sustainable food system, as well as a volunteer mentoring program during the seed year of a fully UCLA student run non profit One Heart Source. Both of these organizations were started right at UCLA by STUDENTS.

I aspire to use these experiences to work with communities to enhance the quality of life of Honduran residents by creating new community wealth and building the capacity of residents to take control of their own economic and political future. Thus, these attributes also correspond to an aspiration to learn as much as possible while serving: about myself, about Honduras, about the tangible barriers to municipal development, and above all about the unanticipated lessons, which are certain to be the most trying.

Professionally, this two year volunteer service is an incredible opportunity that will build my skill-set, teach me great lessons, and build character. In the globalized marketplace of today – the overseas experience, the cross-cultural knowledge, and language skills that I will gain as a Volunteer are extremely valuable and highly sought by employers. Peace Corps will offer an incredible foundation for me to build a career in international development work. The work I face as a Municipal Development Advisor will be much more difficult that any other task I have accomplished. Though having lived through 5 years of classes at UCLA gives me the confidence I need to push forward.

As my friend Dennis once told me – “In any activity that requires a significant commitment of body and heart, we tend to find the most indelible lessons that touch the emotions as well as the intellect.” By giving my all to the PC service, I aspire to not only lend a hand to Hondurans but also to test myself. So along with the tangible professional benefits, intangible benefits will arise in the act of trying to make a difference in people’s lives. With lessons to draw upon for the rest of my life – the rewards will last a lifetime. As is often said, the Peace Corps isn’t simply something great…. but the beginning of something incredible.