Why?

A good friend of mine recently gave me some great advice. She told me to write down a list of reasons why I am doing this as a reminder of what motivated me in the first place. Knowing this would be extremely helpful on those days of doubt, I quickly took to her advice and started up my list. While working on it, I remembered the motivational statement I submitted back in December when I first applied to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. I just reread this statement and thought it would be meaningful to document in my blog. It was neat to see similarities in this statement and my list, as well as ways my motivation has changed and developed over the last several months. It should also be noted that though not explicitly stated in this statement, Christ's love for me (and all mankind), and living in that freedom is my foundational motivation to how I live each day. Without further ado... I give you the Motivation Statement of December 2016 CP:

Everyone has a story. This perspective has motivated me to better understand my role as a global citizen in a diverse and complex world. As I look into the eyes of my students, sit in traffic during rush hour, or glance around at the blank stares in a college lecture hall, I remind myself that within each person is a rich story of joys, trials, regrets, dreams, fears, and experiences as unique as a fingerprint. It excites me to consider the global library of experiences, wisdom, and creative solutions that can be compiled when our stories are shared. As a member of the Minneapolis community, I have been able to learn others’ stories, share my own, and actively volunteer in under-resourced areas to work toward culturally responsive and equitable educational practices for young children. The Peace Corps offers a unique opportunity to continue this work, seek to better understand the world, and partner with local community members to combat injustice and bring sustainable and practical change.

As I consider what motivates me to join the Peace Corps, where I know I will be presented with challenges yet beyond my comprehension, I am reminded of a quote from a man who influenced my personal teaching philosophy, Fred Rogers. He said, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” What the Peace Corps has done and continues to do around the world is exactly this: see a need and respond to it. I hope to join the purposeful work the Peace Corp has already established.

With this excitement, I also recognize the reality of hardships in Peace Corps service. Though on a smaller scale, I have experienced various challenges when working in cultural communities different from my own. When I moved to Minneapolis, I began volunteering at a Somali charter school. On my first day, I faced embarrassment and communication barriers with staff and students as I navigated an unfamiliar cultural context. It was in this experience, and several others to follow, that I developed as a professional and individual both emotionally and intellectually. Through humbling myself, I learned to ask questions when possible, apologize when necessary, collaborate across cultures, and persevere amidst adversity. While there is no way to be fully prepared for the unpredictable challenges to come, I have great confidence that community, humility, grit, and forgiveness of self and others will support me in overcoming the physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges to come. Challenges are an inevitable and arguably integral part of human stories. What matters is how we respond. I do not offer perfection, but I offer my best. I look forward to serving as a volunteer to listen to others’ stories, further develop my personal story, and most importantly play a role in a story much larger than my own.

When I'm feeling discouraged, sick, disheartened, frustrated, or just plain tired, please help me remember this. I'm definitely going to need your love, support, prayers, and encouragement along the way. THANK YOU!

(These are for the hard days too. Also, I just think they are great)

Peace,

Caitlin