As I enter my final year at St. Bonaventure, I have found myself looking back in introspection as my life after college slowly becomes clearer. There is a level of excitement and nostalgia among my peers as we get ready to join the “real world.” However, I have also noticed a looming sense of anxiety among those who are still unsure where their degree is going to take them. While many are locked in for jobs or internships, there is still a whole community of students who have yet to figure out their post-college plan.
I, myself, still don’t know exactly where my career path is headed. Yet, I know exactly where I will be and what I will be doing for the next two years, and it is due to an organization a lot of students tend to overlook. Come June, I will be joining the Peace Corps to serve as an English teacher in Africa.
Too many students find themselves working jobs outside their desired field simply because they either cannot find a career that suits them or they lack the experience needed to get their dream job. Everyone has heard of the classic college dilemma. “I need to gain experience to get a job, and a job to gain experience.”
This is where the Peace Corps comes in. They offer opportunities to gain experience across a variety of fields, from education to economics, all around the world. The Peace Corps remains one of the most underrated post-college opportunities for students, especially at St. Bonaventure. All too many students pass on the opportunity to build their resume and gain valuable skills in the real world, all without having to worry about the financial aspects of either supporting themselves or moving back home.
The comfort of clarity after college and a shining resume is far from the only advantage in joining the Peace Corps. As a federal organization, volunteers enjoy plenty of benefits after service as well.
One of the biggest, for myself at least, would be loan forgiveness and preference for federal jobs. In a time where student debt is at an all-time high and people are spending their lives paying for their education, the Peace Corps helps to pay off loans and make life far more manageable even after volunteers return from service. Personally, my goal has always been to pursue a career in international affairs and a job in the federal government. The Peace Corps will allow me to have preference to competitive positions in Washington, DC.
The Peace Corps offers endless opportunities for students after they graduate. Yet it remains one of the most under-utilized paths to a career, here at Bonaventure. Going forward, I could not be more excited for the experience I have ahead of me in Africa. Ever since hearing of my acceptance, it feels like there has been an enormous weight lifted from my shoulders now that I don’t have uncertainty the uncertainty of a post college plan looming over my head. Any student who is still searching for opportunities for after they graduate should look into the Peace Corps as they’ll find an opportunity to see the world and begin their life at the same time.
Luke Gobel, contributing writer
gobellz17@bonaventure.edu
