I served in the Republic of Georgia as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English from 2007 to 2008. I was in a group that was evacuated due to a conflict between Russia and Georgia. I was very disappointed when we were evacuated. I realized how much I loved teaching while serving in Georgia, and I was eager to continue.

Soon after returning to the United States, I read about Prince George's County Teaching Fellows program with The George Washington University (GWU) on the Peace Corps website. After speaking with the program manager, a former Botswana RPCV and a GWU graduate, I knew that I wanted to be a Peace Corps Fellow and earn my master's in secondary education with a concentration in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).

The GWU Peace Corps Fellows/USA program provides thorough teacher training and emphasizes the importance of becoming a reflective practitioner. There are four other Peace Corps Fellows in my cohort—all of us with various backgrounds and experiences, but with a common desire to become the best teachers we can be. Being a part of the fellowship program has not only provided me with a support system and a new group of friends, but also professional colleagues who serve as resources and springboards for new ideas.

As a part of my fellowship program, I taught at a middle school as an ESOL teacher during the fall semester and am currently teaching ESOL at an elementary school. I teach a diverse population in an increasingly multicultural community. It is exciting to be able to meet and work with people and students from countries such as Cameroon, Haiti, and El Salvador. I am scheduled to graduate from GWU in December 2010 and I hope to continue to work as an ESOL teacher for Prince George's County Public Schools.