Food will define the future.
At least that’s what Steve Moore, a lecturer of environmental studies at Elon University, was thinking when he began discussing the prospects of a Peace Corps prep program with Elon administrators during fall semester 2011.
President Leo Lambert signed off on the program Feb. 22, and since then, student interest in the Peace Corps has grown substantially. Moore believes this program will give students an advantage when it comes to being accepted into the Peace Corps. But more importantly, he believes this program will be advantageous to the people the Peace Corps serves.
“The Peace Corps is highly competitive,” Lambert said. “I want to make sure our students have all the advantages they need to get into the Peace Corps and that the Peace Corps and the people they serve have the most qualified students.”
Students who are accepted into the Peace Corps are committed to 27 months of service. These students are also privy to a substantial number of graduate opportunities. Moore said this is one of the more attractive aspects of joining the Peace Corps for potential students.
“If you plan a little bit ahead and you’re interested in the environment and food and feel comfortable serving in those roles, you could serve in the Peace Corps and do graduate school at the same time and come away with a degree and Peace Corps service,” Moore said.
Moore also said the Peace Corps gives students a chance to discover what they want to pursue in the future.
Junior Tyler Feld is considering participating in the pre-Peace Corps program. Feld, who said he’s always found volunteering to be extremely fulfilling, looks forward to the graduate opportunities the Peace Corps offers.
“This program gives students a chance to gain something besides personal satisfaction from their work,” Feld said.
[quote]I want to make sure our students have all the advantages they need to get into the Peace Corps and that the Peace Corps and the people they serve have the most qualified students. -- President Leo Lambert [/quote]
More than 100 Elon alumni have either served in the Peace Corps or are currently serving. Brett Brawerman, class of 2011, has been working in Moldova since August. He said there is little that can prepare you for the realities of a third world country.
“If you believe in yourself, just do it,” Brawerman said. “Once you get past the goodbyes and the mental terror the Peace Corps can present, you realize what an amazing decision you have made.”
Brawerman also said he has gained a lot from the experience. He has learned a new language, traveled to five different countries and had numerous “unreal” experiences. He hopes completing the pre-Peace Corps program will open students’ eyes and reveal some of the resources that weren’t immediately apparent.
“This program provides the chance to see if the Peace Corps is really for you or not before making any decisions, and down the line it will be able to illuminate connections to other service programs if you decide it is too much,” he said.
The pre-Peace Corps program facilitates a platform for students to make a contribution to the continuous struggle of global food production. According to Moore, in the next 50 years, we will need to feed more people than we have during the past 10,000 years combined. For students who recognize this need, the Peace Corps is a great path to consider.