What the heck is an aspiration statement?

Once I accepted my Peace Corps invitation I had to complete an aspiration statement and a resume to send to my supervisors in Paraguay to get to know me. The resume was pretty easy, but the aspiration statement I put off to the very end. What is this thing anyways? Well, I finally sat down and pounded it out. This is what I came up with.

A.The professional attributes that you plan to use, and what aspirations you hope to fulfill during your Peace Corps service.

My professional background is in Social Work, so I have been equipped with skills that allow me to effectively work with individuals, families, groups, and communities so that they have the skills and ability to help themselves. The most influential experience in my professional training up to this point was working at a community organizing agency. I learned how to use their model for community transformation which not only focused on the physical aspects of the community, but also the development of the people within the community. Developing trusting relationships and identifying within the community and individuals the resources and skills that are available to themselves were important skills I gained. The foundations of this strategy were developed by Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator and theorist, and one who I have studied and model my work after. The strategy I plan to use is the approach of a servant-leader that places the work and development of the people first and second comes accomplishing the task that is to be accomplished. Other attributes include taking initiative, being self-motivated, a good listener and learner, a team player, organized, flexible, and the ability to see a need and address it.
I am really looking forward to practicing this model as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay as well as acquiring strategies that the Peace Corps uses to become an effective community worker. My goal is not to “save a community,” but to be effective in one or two systems within the community which will allow for the community to continue changing over several years. I hope to assist in developing skills and abilities, including leadership, in individual members so that they can continue the work.

B.Your strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs.

I think that in order to work effectively with a host country partner it requires building a level of trust. It is extremely important not to view myself as the “expert,” but see ourselves as learners together. My strategy is to help guide and shape change while simultaneously empowering others to become change agents within their community. Knowing how to utilize our resources will be important to our success. It will be important to be honest so that my expressed needs are met and that we work effectively together. Patience will also be an important skill, as I have already learned through the Peace Corps application process. The relationships that I build within the community will be a key part to the work that I will be doing. Using every opportunity I have to interact with the community members will be a key component. Not only will I be intentional about my host family relationship, but also take time to interact with the people that they introduce me to and that I come in contact with around the community. I think it will be incredibly important for me to become a listener and also to share myself with others. This past year working with Somalis I developed a level of comfort to stop by their homes simply to visit and share a cup of tea. This was a really special thing that I hope is welcome in the Guarani culture. It will also be important to identify community leaders.

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

One of my demonstrated strengths is that I can easily adapt to a new environment. The strategy for adapting to a new culture that I find the most helpful is to suspend judgment and become a learner of the culture. Another thing that I have appreciated when crossing cultures is to understand the values of the culture and then see what they look like daily in a culture. For example, Somalis don’t value time and they don’t value individuality like American culture does. Therefore not only is being on time not important but neither are birthdays important because they mark both time and they celebrate the individual. I find these types of things important to learn about when entering another culture. I am very welcoming of difference and accepting of others and will use that to my advantage. First I will be a learner and second I will become a teacher. When the Paraguayans seem to be uneasy with a U.S. cultural norm that I am displaying, I will take the opportunity to teach them about my culture. Not only will we understand each other better but I will continue to respect my culture. An ability to laugh will be extremely important along with recognizing the stages of culture development that I am in.

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

One thing that I hope to learn during training is additional agricultural teaching and skills. My training in agriculture is basic and there is so much more that I feel I need to learn to be effective. I am looking forward to learning the Guarani language. I also hope to learn about the values and norms of the culture before entering the culture. I am hoping to learn more useful skills and strategies for working effectively in a community.

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

After returning from the Peace Corps I foresee myself returning to school to earn my masters in social work with an emphasis on social and economic development. Not only will the Peace Corps be a great addition to an application and a way to receive financial assistance, but the skills that I acquire in the Peace Corps combined with the skills acquired after receiving a masters will be a combination that will assist me in working in low-income, underserved communities across the United States and possibly the world. I desire to work towards social justice. I don’t know exactly what that will look like but being exposed to a community organizing model while interning at a community organizing agency gave me a vision for what community development can look like when the residents are given control and guidance. I can see myself working for a small community organization in the U.S. or, in contrast, with the United Nations or Oxfam International.
Personally I desire to develop a global worldview that can assist me in being an effective U.S. citizen, either inside the U.S. or around the world. The U.S. is a diverse country and knowing how to work amidst diversity will be important. Also, teaching those who have a minimal cross-cultural understanding in order to raise their awareness will be important in building bridges across differences in the U.S. I desire to develop relationships, live simply, seek community and share hospitality. I hope that the Peace Corps experience offers unique perspectives on what it means to live as a community and that I will experience Guarani culture of hospitality.