Aspiration Statement! :)

So the Peace Corps requires all new invitees to write up an Aspiration Statement that will be sent to our country, so they can get a better idea of who we are and what we hope to get out of Peace Corps service. I'd thought I'd share mine! (:

Aspiration Statement

Elena Herrera

Madagascar

June 10, 2014

A. Identify three professional attributes that you plan to use during your Peace Corps service and how these will help meet your aspirations and commitment to service. 

Organization, awesome and creative lesson planning, and great communication with students and coworkers are all attributes that I have gained from work and volunteer experience that will definitely help me during my time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. Using my organizational skills will help in the classroom by allowing me to keep track of lessons, my students grade levels and English proficiency, as well as being able to balance my time in the classroom with my time integrating into the community outside of being the Peace Corps Teacher. My lesson planning skills will come in handy when I am trying to teach reluctant students or adults English, as I have a great time finding fun and engaging activities that make learning easier for everyone, as well as being more enjoyable for me to teach. Communication is key in any environment and my ability to effectively communicate what needs to happen in the classroom will help with the structure of the day, and I plan on working on communicating in Malagasy, so that I may be a fixture in my community as someone that is open to new experience and conversations. These attributes will help me during my service by allowing me to effectively integrate into my community, and will help me become a better teacher during my service, as well as after my service has ended.

B. Briefly identify two strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs.

Having a solid grasp of the Malagasy language will be the best way for me to work effectively with my host country and community, as I will be able to communicate in the local language so there will not be as many barriers in conversations with my counterpart, students, and community. I will also be sure to learn and understand the cultural norms so that I can behave and dress accordingly, which will help earn the trust of my community and build stronger relationships.

C. Your strategy for adapting to a new culture with respect to your own cultural background.

I know that living in Madagascar will be a culture shock, but I do not see myself having too hard of a time integrating and adapting, as I’ve moved around my entire life, living in vastly different cultures and lifestyles. I plan on being open to every new experience that presents itself to me, and giving everything I encounter a chance, even if it is not necessarily something I would have done in the United States. While I will enjoy my new experiences and relish learning everything about a culture I know nothing about, I do plan on bringing some of my comforts from home, such as books and tv shows that I love.

D. The skills and knowledge you hope to gain during pre-service training to best serve your future community and project. 

The knowledge and skills that I hope to gain at pre-service training are a solid grasp of Malagasy, enough information about Madagascar’s educational system to be effective in the classroom, and more insight into the Malagasy culture that my own research at home might not have touched on. Learning the language is imperative to living and enjoying my time in my community, and learning about the educational system will help my implement my lessons and activities accordingly.

E. How you think Peace Corps service will influence your personal and professional aspirations after your service ends.

Personally, I am almost positive that Peace Corps will turn me into a more patient, humble person with an ability and love to face new challenges. I hope to return from service with a better understanding of myself, as I am always growing and learning and adapting. Peace Corps will be the biggest challenge I have ever taken on, I just know that I will come out better from it. 

Professionally, I know that I am going to pursue my Master’s in Education. Teaching in the Peace Corps will definitely give me a vast amount of knowledge on what works in the classroom and what does not.