Ship Graduates With Peace Corps Experience

Shippensburg University graduates have found rewarding experiences all over the world with the Peace Corps.

"Patience. Respect. Humility. These are the words that first jump to mind when reflecting on my experience. As a permanent guest, I was constantly impressed at how the people of both Mali and Cameroon would take time and help me in my state of ignorance. Many volunteers were not proficient in language starting out or had no idea about social norms, yet there were very seldom adverse reactions (from our hosts)." - Emmanuel Ekekwe ‘06 (Mali and Cameroon)

"I now have a new appreciation of the world and my place within it. At Ship I learned about different histories and cultures, but that was only at an academic level. One achieves a more complete understanding when actually seeing these worlds first hand, and living amongst the people within them." - Jeremy Starr ‘16 (Guinea)

"Be excited, but be ready. Go in with an open heart and mind. Your experience is going to surpass your expectations tenfold, so be ready to have your mind blown. Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is going to be one of the most overwhelming, challenging experiences of your life. But the reward will be one that nothing can compare to." - Yvette Betancourt‘16 (St. Lucia)

"If you ask ten volunteers about why they chose to serve, you will probably get ten different answers. Every volunteer is as unique as the sites where they will be placed. Everyone has a different story, a history, a background that drives their decision to accept the invitation to become a volunteer. My reason? Well, it's twofold. My main reason for joining, my main reason for wanting to become a volunteer is perspective. I see being a volunteer as an opportunity to walk and see like others do, to see life from another culture's perspective, and learn from those differences. However, another important reason is the nature of the work itself. I see the opportunity to serve as a coastal resource management Volunteer in the Peace Corps as a way to use all the skills and knowledge I've acquired and apply them to fight issues that afflict the vulnerable coastal communities that are experiencing stronger typhoons, economic hardships, and diminishing fish catches." - Patrick Peck ‘16 (Philippines)