Success Stories

Success Stories - Barbara Adams

I have been the campus representative for the Peace Corps at CSUN for the past three years. In 2005 and 2006 more CSUN students than ever before joined the Peace Corps; in 2006 more CSUN students joined than any other Cal State.

I loved working with students at CSUN and I would encourage anyone who wants to do something meaningful and who loves to travel to consider serving in the Peace Corps after college. Peace Corps is a great way to launch a career in education, international relations, the Foreign Service, healthcare, law, medicine or to pursue graduate studies.

I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Poland from 1993-1995 and it was one of the best and most meaningful experiences of my life! After I graduated from college, I was miserable sitting in front of a computer at a desk job and wondered why I had even bothered to go to college. It was then that I finally mustered the courage to apply to Peace Corps. I had always wanted to live overseas, but I was a little afraid of leaving friends. My service happened in a moment of historical transition: the end of communism. I was given a chance to witness history and hear first-hand accounts of the realities of living under communism. My experience in Poland was far more meaningful than my ten dollar an hour desk job.

The Peace Corps provided training, a place to live and a living stipend as I worked on a public health project and taught English. My experience with the Peace Corps prepared me for a career path in journalism, showing me how to learn outside an academic setting. Without having gone to Poland, I never would have thought I could have worked in journalism. But Poland showed me a world without fancy degrees, networking and computers - journalists wrote because they had something to say. During my service, I had learned how to be more proactive, have confidence in myself and not be easily intimidated - upon my return to the United States I went to Reuters International News Service, resume in hand, and asked for an internship. That began a 5 year career path that led to a paying job and then promotion. I wouldn't have had the confidence, international skills and curiosity to do that without my service in the Peace Corps. I'm currently a Master's student in nursing at UCLA, and Peace Corps helped me get accepted into the program.

I thought serving for 2-years would take time out of my U.S. life - instead, it pushed me forward to places I never could have gotten to without serving. For anyone who wants to go into international relations, teach, do humanitarian work or learn about another culture, Peace Corps offers a great way to gain 2 solid years of hands-on experience.

Peace Corps service isn't for everyone but I think if you are creative, like challenges, can work independently and love traveling and learning about new cultures, the Peace Corps saying is correct: serving in the Peace Corps is "the toughest job you'll ever love."

For anyone interested in learning more about the Peace Corps, they can call the Los Angeles Regional Office at (310) 356-1100 or check out the website at www.peacecorps.gov. Also, check the Career Center website for information about the Peace Corps on campus.