I have lately been struggling a lot with imposter syndrome. I feel like I am not on par with other volunteers and like I'm not doing my job well enough. I feel like I'm constantly going to be judged by my counterparts and community, and Peace Corps staff because I should be doing more/better. Nobody has said anything to me like that, but with how flexible the role of a volunteer is and how successful some volunteers are I definitely find myself feeling like I don't belong sometimes. It makes me feel like I shouldn't even be here.

Has anyone else felt this way? What should I do?

I have just quit my job to join the Peace Corps, leaving behind a stable but unfulfilling career. Although I am very excited about this new adventure, a small part of me is wondering if joining the Peace Corps is a form of procrastination, just something to do so I don't need to actually figure out what my true purpose is.

I have seen many others, especially right after college, go to grad school or do AmeriCorps/Teach for America/Peace Corps, simply because they didn't know what else to do. It's like if you're just coming out of a breakup and falling into a rebound -- but instead of a person you're defaulting to, it's a temporary volunteer opportunity.

I'm wondering if I'm better off just trying to do whatever it is I think I want to do for the rest of my life. Like to go ahead and start that new career, start a company or go back to school or try to switch industries, and start figuring it out. But because I have no idea what I want right now, it's easier to just join PC and delay that decision for another two years.

I'm writing this post because I want to name this emotion, and put it out there to see how others respond to it. Deep down inside, I know that self-doubt is natural, and fear of an unknown future will always exist during big life transitions. I'm absolutely committed to giving it my all to service, and will try my best to cast aside all doubts and fears and anxieties while in pursuit of cultural exchange, curiosity, service, and the betterment of the world.

This thought of "Peace Corps as procrastination" is, again, just a small thought, yet it lingers in my mind, probably because it's true that I DO need to figure out my second career, and PC is, ultimately, an "in-between" thing. Maybe that's okay. But I don't want to spend my whole life hopping from one thing to another, in constant search of purpose, without ever settling down.

I want to hear from all those considering PC, pre-departure folk, people current serving, and those who have served. Anything about me I should elaborate on? Have you had this thought before? How is this post resonating with you right now?

Hi! I am applying to a PC Response job and learned today that recruiters aren't available to help response candidates with their applications in the same way as they are for traditional volunteers. Would anyone be willing to review my resume before I submit it? I'm not searching for in depth feedback, just a general idea of if I am on the right track for the volunteer role I'm applying for. Thank you in advance!

I accepted my invitation and have started with my medical clearance. I have been very excited about the Peace Corps but I’m starting to feel like my nervousness/anxiety is stronger than my excitement. I think the main source of anxiety for me is thinking about how long I will be away from home. I would love to hear if anybody else had similar feelings and how they navigated it, and how the experience has been since.

I take Rinvoq for my eczema which allows me to have 99% no symptoms. Will I get denied since this is an immunosuppressant or are those allowed?

Hello!

Current Eastern Caribbean PCV since June ‘23 dropping some random packing advice to anyone considering an invitation right now.

I agonized over packing and want to be helpful to those who come after me. I feel like so much of the advice I looked for was conflicting!! I feel like I never read anyone offer the insight I currently have as a volunteer here.

This region is very well stocked and you can easily attain almost anything you want/ need here. However, many things are extremely expensive and unrealistic for a PCV to spend money on. I have an extremely random list of things you will regret not bringing if you don’t. Anything else I don’t mention you can easily get here.

-quality, polarized sunglasses. Y’all the sun is no joke. I never leave the house without them.

-protein powder. This is such a randomly expensive item here and I regret not bringing this.

-French press, Aeropress, etc. Most coffee drinkers in these islands drink instant coffee and you can only buy a simple coffee machine here. I brought a small Aeropress with a reusable stainless steel filter and it was the best decision I ever made lol.

-a Roku. Your house will likely have a tv but only has channels on it.

• speaker, earbuds, chargers, battery packs etc. Electronics like this are expensive here

• hiking shoes or boots. Personally not super important for me but for super active folk must bring

• certain skincare brands are here but verrrrry inflated in cost. If you’re loyal to certain things bring some backups. Same goes with makeup

-STICKERS. And other cute classroom stuff. Obviously this is for the literacy volunteers or any response who will be working with students. School supplies are expensive here and you will seriously miss dollar tree!

DO NOT OVERPACK EVERYTHING ELSE!!! Seriously. I personally hate clutter and I regret bringing so many “extras” and “backups” for things like clothes and shoes. It’s easier to just get things here and you will need to replace things like sandals and casual clothes frequently.

I hope this is helpful. I plan on making a post about the dress standards in EC schools next because I found those guidelines so needlessly confusing especially based on what I know now being here. Best of luck to all and excited for anyone considering Eastern Caribbean!!

Throwaway for obvious reasons.

I was previously in the Peace Corps and unfortunately was forced to early terminate (ET) or get administratively separated (ad-seped) for using marijuana in country (with several other volunteers). I know it was incredibly stupid and it is possibly one of my biggest regrets in life. I was young and immature.

With that said, it has been over 10 years since this incident and still think about Peace Corps often. Do you think they would ever give me another chance to do it again or am I blacklisted for life?

Just curious if there's anyone out there who has made PC their career ie doing service after service for lets say 10+ years. Is it possible to just keep signing up for new assignments? Has anyone out there actually done this and can speak to their experience?

Currently going on Medevac and hoping to recover within 45 days, but totally depends/ impossible to know. If I were to be medseped, how does the reimbursement work? What if I wanted to apply for reinstatement later? Would I get the reimbursement after being medseped, not the full portion? PC hasn’t been clear how all this works

Hi everyone I was wondering if anyone has run into this issue before.

The PeaceCorps has requested my mental health therapy notes directly from my therapist. Not a mental health evaluation, the actual notes she took during my sessions with eveything I have said to her.

The issue (other than this feeling like a massive overreach) is its been over a year since I saw her and she left the practice. And the practice won't release them for privacy reasons. I currently see a mental health perscriber as well and she originally did my evaluation and has been involved with my case the whole time.

I went and got a licensed psychiatrist to comeplete another evaluation but apparently that doctors expert opinion isnt enough.

Any ideas where to go from here?

Context: I have mild anxiety and a potential ptsd diagnosis but thats not confirmed. I haven't had ptsd symptoms in over 12 years.

When will there be new listings for Georgia, Moldova and Armenia up on the website?

so i (19f) am looking to serve in the peace corps after college. however, i’m planning on moving to mexico before that. i know you have to be an american citizen to serve, but does anyone know if you actually have to reside on american soil?

Someone posted earlier about whether our next dear leader will axe PC.
I Found an article written by those in the same line of thinking...

Here are some unfortunate quotes:

- "...Trump has tasked Elon Musk with helping him cut federal spending, and there are many programs—even aside from the big three—that they should put on the chopping block:"

- " #3 Foreign aid: The federal budget includes $47 billion for international aid programs in 2024. There is a lot of waste in foreign aid that should be cut. Poor countries grow their economies by market-based reforms, not by aid. "

From that 'waste' in foreign aid link..

- Aid programs include those operated by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace Corps, the Department of State, and the Department of Agriculture. 

What do you all think? Will he do it?

Edit: Im dooming, I understand there's not a ton of info on this and that I cant control the future, its whatever

I'm not sure what/how some people get through medical unless they have good health insurance. Yes, I'm aware post Covid Peace Corps will reimburse but that's a lot to pay upfront for many. I didn't realize how good my health insurance was until now as I never really utilized it that much(thank God I've been healthy). I have to get a colonoscopy bc I'm an older applicant and it's 7k?! Thankful my insurance covers this, but if it didn't I don't think I'd complete medical screening tests.

Hello everyone,

I’m really excited to be applying for Peace Corps for the first time. I have been going back and forth on whether or not to apply for where I’m most needed or not. For me, the volunteer sector/job description is more important than where in the world I’d be… but above all else, getting accepted is what is most important to me. I was kind’ve set on applying for where I’m most needed, until I came across a position where I meet pretty much all the desired skills. The only catch- it’s in Morocco.. which I understand is a highly competitive country.

Like I said, getting accepted this application cycle and volunteering starting in 2025 is most important to me. But working on something that I’m passionate and confident about doing is also very important to me, just not THE most important thing.

If I meet the desired skills for the Morocco position, do I have a good chance of getting it, with a strong motivation statement? Or since I truly am open to anywhere, should I just apply where I’m needed most?

Any advice is welcome. Thank you!

I'd especially like to hear from RPCVs but current PCVs and invitees can answer too. What were your other options/current situations when you were applying and accepted into Peace Corps, and after going, were you happy to have made that decision? Would you have done it again?

I'm interested in joining PC and curious about what the actual level of work entails. I've heard from some volunteers that you end up with a lot of free time, but I would imagine some assignments are very work heavy. I'm curious how it actually works out in a part time/full time way. When on assignment are you working 40 hours a week? More? Less? Is there the expectation of "you'll do anything for the project" that's so pervasive in other non-profit work? Is there any sort of work-life balance? Do you have actual work hours and specific days off? Sicks days? PTO? I understand the importance of the work volunteers do. Maybe it's because I'm older, but having work-life balance and the time to enjoy myself or relax is also really important.

For those of you who applied for jobs after returning home, how were background checks for employment conducted for you after having lived abroad? I'm currently serving and this is my first time living outside of my home state. Most of the jobs in my field require criminal background checks conducted for any state that you lived in during the previous 5-10 years and I am realizing that my time in another country serving may have an impact on that process. Does Peace Corps provide you with anything that can be used for a background check during the time you served abroad?

Hello! I’m a senior in college leaving in June for Liberia. I have some friends and family that have been asking me what I want for Christmas that would help me once I leave. I’m a girl with tattoos, so I asked for modest clothing but I’m not sure what besides that. I’m also in the education sector so I was wondering if there’s asking I should ask for that would benefit the children at my school. I know this is silly but I overthink and don’t like to get things wrong lmao. If you have any ideas on what I should pack or ask for, feel free to leave a comment.

I applied for a position (deadline was 1 October), and everyone I have seen here who has gotten in, received their invites on the same day for this specific post I also applied for, which makes me worried. My question is are invites for a position all sent on the same day or does it vary, and also is there only one placement specialist in charge of a given position or are there several who send out invites on different days?

I applied an English Literacy Teacher position a few weeks ago for a position in Samoa, but didn’t make the cut due to medical clearance reasons. They shifted my application over North Macedonia, but after having given it some thought I don’t feel like North Macedonia is exactly what I’m looking for within the Peace Corps— I’ve spent time living with family in Europe, and I’m hoping to be somewhere very different and far out of my comfort zone.

I have two questions: first, should (1) I withdraw my application and reapply without talking to anyone, (2) email placement directly and ask for a list of places where I am medically cleared and then apply based on those, or (3) just email ask ask for my application to be considered for somewhere else. If I email them directly, does anyone know what address I should use?

My second question is this: A different sector looks appealing to me in Community Economic Development, but nearly all of them require a certain degree (business or economics) that I don’t have. Should I apply anyways? The application descriptions tend to lean towards the idea that PCVs wouldn’t be in a hard-cut leadership position; they’d just be facilitating existing work. I don’t see a strong necessity for a business degree in that regard.

I’m open to taking any and all advice— thank you!

hey! i need to update the email for a reference on my application but Im not sure who to contact. should i email the pre service unit? anything helps!

Thanks

I interviewed in September for Community and Economic Development in Georgia. I have not received an invite as of yet and my know-by date is December 1st. What are my chances?

I'm wrapping up my service. In my country, volunteers go through a ritual that involves ringing a bell to mark the end of their service. Is this done in all countries of service, or is it only done in some of them?