"I'm applying to Peace Corps because I think it's my highest calling right now. I was an attorney for eight years before I left my legal career to write, learn guitar and make art. It was the best decision I ever made. I savor the time I have to do the things I love. The only thing missing from my life is travel. If I could travel the globe while contributing to it in a meaningful way, there would be nothing better to me. So my goal in the Peace Corps is to contribute to the communities I'm serving, while sharing my experiences with the rest of the world through my art and writing. The thought of this makes me more excited than anything in the world.
I think living and working abroad will be a ripe ground for inspiration. I spent a summer abroad in Western Europe during law school, and I've been wanting to live abroad again ever since. I studied European Union law at Oxford University during that summer, and I attended the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. I also spent a couple of weeks traveling, which included stops in France, Ireland, Germany and the Czech Republic. I still draw inspiration from those experiences.
I first connected with Southeast Asia through my interest in martial arts. I started training Muay Thai eight years ago, and developed a love for Thai culture. I was able to visit Thailand for two weeks with some of my training partners, and that trip is one of my most cherished experiences. I have been longing to go back to that part of the world ever since.
I was raised in San Diego, and I've always wanted to become fluent in Spanish. I took Spanish all through high school and college and I have visited Mexico many times, but I have never been fully immersed in a Spanish speaking culture. I speak some Spanish, but I want to become fluent. I think the best to learn is to live in a Spanish speaking country, so the thought of moving to Central or South America excites me greatly.
Travel has always been a catalyst for personal growth for me. If I can see the world and help others at the same time, then that is what I want to do. Getting this opportunity would literally be a dream come true for me, and there is no one who will be more excited to dive in to the experience. I have been praying that I get accepted to Peace Corps, and I will keep praying for it until it happens or it doesn't.
As I mentioned above, I am not only excited to help others through my work in the Peace Corps, but also to share my experiences through my art and writing. I keep an ongoing blog and I have a book that I hope to release by the end of this year. I write and draw and play guitar, and I share these experiences on social media. I plan to maintain these practices throughout my work with the Peace Corps, and I believe they will be a great way to let everyone know about the positive impact we are making around the world."
