September 15 to October 15 is nationally recognized as Hispanic Heritage Month.

I don’t get nervous often. On the plane to Paraguay, most of the 44 Peace Corps trainees who had been selected to serve in Paraguay were jittery and excited, but I felt at peace. I wondered if the nervousness would ever kick in.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, distance—both physical and temporal—doesn’t mean you can’t still make an impact or have your host country continue to impact you. With coronavirus causing all of us to physically distance, it’s more important than ever to remember this sentiment.

When moving into my house, I began collecting glass bottles.

This is the third in a series of Q&As with returned Peace Corps Volunteers who identify as first-generation college students and/or new Americans. Learn how they navigated the challenges of the decision-making process and service abroad.

"I have established many relationships and my projects are reflecting the expressed desires of my fellow community members"

I was well into my doctoral program in agricultural economics at Texas A&M University (TAMU) when my gym partner, who was also the campus Peace Corps recruiter, mentioned that he’d noticed a ring like mine on the finger of a new student named Vanessa who’d recently returned from service in the Philippines.

Volunteering with the Peace Corps isn't easy, but collaboration and inspiration can come from the most unexpected places.