These Secret Journeys
Tonight was the 50th Anniversary Peace Corps celebration in Royce Hall. It was one of the most inspiring events I’ve been to in a really long time. Guests (All formers Peace Corps volunteers): Chris Matthews (commentator on MSNBC) moderated the Q&A panel with Aaron S. Williams, director of the Peace Corps (who will also be speaking at graduation in June) who served in the Dominican Republic after growing up in Chicago. Francoise Castro, a 2001 UCLA graduate who served in Mozambique in 2004 and is now working for the State Department. Frank Mankiewicz, who graduated from UCLA in 1947 and was one of the first people involved in the Peace Corps, serving as regional director of Latin America. Truly impressive guy, with jobs like president of NPR and press secretary for Robert Kennedy on his resume. Maureen Orth helped build a school in Colombia. She now works for Vanity Fair and takes trips back to Colombia, where she just built another school named after her. Haskell Sears Ward, who came from the very poor Griffin, Georgia and volunteered in Ethiopia literally after hearing President John F. Kennedy’s speech about the Peace Corps. What they all have in common: the memory of a fantastic experience that changed their lives and they are all very successful in their careers now. It made me realize that volunteering wouldn’t be giving up two years of my life, it would be gaining them like Larry told me the other day. I am convinced. Maureen described Colombians the way they deserve to be remembered, as people rich in spirit. Frank talked about how the Peace Corps ultimately helps Americans see how other people are living. Having that knowledge changes your entire perspective. Chris shared stories in between questions and two things he said really struck me. One was a story he told about seeing the rocket on its way to the moon in 1969 from Swaziland, just witnessing this incredible historical moment. The other was that his family was very middle class and stuck in a rut. His life was in a way planned out, he would leave the suburbs to go to college, return to the suburbs and buy a house. Taking the risk to volunteer with the Peace Corps changed the path of his life completely and now he is a well-known journalist. I feel like taking this risk will give me stories to tell and throw me into a situation where I have to live on edge, always alert and learning. I am grateful for the life I’ve had but why not experience something truly memorable and do some public service to better the world and myself?

Tonight was the 50th Anniversary Peace Corps celebration in Royce Hall. It was one of the most inspiring events I’ve been to in a really long time.


Guests (All formers Peace Corps volunteers):

Chris Matthews (commentator on MSNBC) moderated the Q&A panel with

  • Aaron S. Williams, director of the Peace Corps (who will also be speaking at graduation in June) who served in the Dominican Republic after growing up in Chicago.
  • Francoise Castro, a 2001 UCLA graduate who served in Mozambique in 2004 and is now working for the State Department.
  • Frank Mankiewicz, who graduated from UCLA in 1947 and was one of the first people involved in the Peace Corps, serving as regional director of Latin America. Truly impressive guy, with jobs like president of NPR and press secretary for Robert Kennedy on his resume.
  • Maureen Orth helped build a school in Colombia. She now works for Vanity Fair and takes trips back to Colombia, where she just built another school named after her.
  • Haskell Sears Ward, who came from the very poor Griffin, Georgia and volunteered in Ethiopia literally after hearing President John F. Kennedy’s speech about the Peace Corps.

What they all have in common: the memory of a fantastic experience that changed their lives and they are all very successful in their careers now. It made me realize that volunteering wouldn’t be giving up two years of my life, it would be gaining them like Larry told me the other day. I am convinced. Maureen described Colombians the way they deserve to be remembered, as people rich in spirit. Frank talked about how the Peace Corps ultimately helps Americans see how other people are living. Having that knowledge changes your entire perspective. Chris shared stories in between questions and two things he said really struck me. One was a story he told about seeing the rocket on its way to the moon in 1969 from Swaziland, just witnessing this incredible historical moment. The other was that his family was very middle class and stuck in a rut. His life was in a way planned out, he would leave the suburbs to go to college, return to the suburbs and buy a house. Taking the risk to volunteer with the Peace Corps changed the path of his life completely and now he is a well-known journalist. I feel like taking this risk will give me stories to tell and throw me into a situation where I have to live on edge, always alert and learning. I am grateful for the life I’ve had but why not experience something truly memorable and do some public service to better the world and myself?

Posted 12 months ago
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