Paid Post

13 Reasons To Join Peace Corps

Do you really need 13 reasons to join the Peace Corps? Just one should suffice, "It's the toughest job you'll ever love." If you do need more than one reason, here are 13 more.

PeaceCorps
by PeaceCorps

Brand Publisher

1. You're not the "typical American backpacker."

Peace Corps

Because the first things on your list are to learn the best Instagram spots and how to say “I love you” in your village’s dialect.

2. You want to experience something new … every day.

Peace Corps

Taking part in a traditional tribal dance? Dancing til dawn? Just another typical day.

3. ... Including some great food.

Peace Corps

Try new foods, taste local delicacies and learn how to cook regional dishes. Not to mention, you get to shock your parents during your next phone call home; “I ate grilled ____ today!”

4. You want to make a difference.

Peace Corps

Whether you touch the lives of hundreds of people or just one, you know your community won’t be the same after you leave.

5. Now you can choose a country or assignment.

Peace Corps

Want to put your college French classes to good use or pursue your passion for teaching? The excuse, “well, I won’t be able to choose were I serve” doesn’t fly anymore.

6. Learning a new language is awesome and saves you money.

Peace Corps

During service you'll learn to speak another language and discover the more fluent you are, the easier it is to bargain. The better you bargain the more money you save. … Just sayin’.

7. You will get the chance to meet some amazing people.

Peace Corps

Village leaders, young entrepreneurs, government workers, civil society leaders, athletes. Widen your circle farther than you ever imagined.

8. You'll become part of the Peace Corps family.

Peace Corps

We understand your crazy stories, readjustment problems and why you hate goats so much.

9. Career skills. Career skills. Career skills.

Peace Corps

Just memorize this phrase: As an independent self-starter with extensive cross-cultural understanding and leadership experience, I am accustomed to working with limited resources to produce measurable and significant results. You’re welcome!

10. You’ll gain a new understanding of finances.

Peace Corps

You won’t get paid much, but you sure know how to make $100 last for weeks. And when you return to America, you'll want to reuse EVERYTHING.

11. Graduate school discounts.

Peace Corps

All Volunteers are life-long learners, and Peace Corps helps support that commitment with grad school opportunities both during and after service.

12. You'll have the best stories to tell.

Peace Corps

You will one-up your parents’ “When I was your age ...” life lessons.

13. You just might find a new passion.

Maybe being a doctor isn’t your thing anymore. Now you’re a development manager for a small non-profit specializing in eco-rehabilitation in a Sub-Saharan Africa. Hey, it could happen!