Growing up in rural Alabama, I never imagined I would eventually work in DC. Yet, the thrill of politics would pull me outside of my small town.

I thought college would be my ticket out of Alabama, but my close family ties kept me in Birmingham, Alabama. At Samford University, I struggled to find a major that motivated me. I considered journalism, but I switched to political science where I could use my argumentative skills productively. 

My junior year of college I finally got the DC experience when I spent the summer as an intern for Feed the Children. I gained an understanding of DC’s tireless work ethic. DC’s residents inspired me as they constantly sought to improve themselves and the world around them.

A summer of networking in DC rekindled my commitment to political issues and strengthened my resolve to travel and find a career that would make an impact. 

The Peace Corps offered everything I was looking for as they entrusted people of all ages and abilities to manage living and working in a foreign country. In the Peace Corps, I finally found my ticket out of Alabama to learn about the world outside of my southern upbringing.

The Peace Corps found its origins in an off-hand speech by President John F. Kennedy on a college campus. Kennedy voiced the call to action that would become the spirit of the Peace Corps: for Americans to be willing to go anywhere and do anything for anyone. This call to action asserted that even young people could use their talents to make a difference. 

Following graduation, I heeded this call to action and served as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Benin. During my service, I became more aware of the hard realities that volunteer work is not as simple as it seems. Power dynamics and complex politics can interfere with good intentions. Despite these difficult realities, I remained committed to the Peace Corps mission and international development. 

At the end of volunteers’ service, Peace Corps offers a year of Noncompetitive Eligibility to help the transition from volunteering to the workforce. I used this opportunity to join Peace Corps Headquarters as an Administrative Support Assistant. In this role, I prepare trainees to depart for their two year service.

Since becoming a public servant, I continue to be surprised by how unpredictable and challenging this work can be. People believe that public servants are just cogs in the machine, filling out paperwork, answering phones, living an unfulfilled life as they complete the mundane tasks required to run the government. My job has been anything but that.  

I work with similarly motivated individuals from a wide range of backgrounds united by a common goal. We are inspired by the Peace Corps mission and work to help others have their own Peace Corps’ adventure. 

Some of my colleagues have worked through the government shutdown in 2019 and now the quarantine from COVID-19. One colleague remarked, “I always heard that government work was boring, but that’s never been my experience!”

Many warn new employees of the restrictions of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy exists in any federal setting and is a necessary factor to manage the expansive funds, livelihoods, and decisions in government. However, that hierarchy does not hinder innovation or teamwork. In my experience, the clear lanes of authority and structure facilitate efficiency and distribution of information.  

As a new member of the workforce, I appreciate the expansive benefits offered to public servants. Employees operate on a fixed pay grade, ensuring that all employees at that level receive equal pay. The process of receiving a promotion is also streamlined and employees have a clear understanding of how and when they can earn one.

Although it took traveling halfway around the world for me to realize it, I came to understand that there’s no place like home and a southern accent isn’t so bad. The journey led me to public service which allows me to advocate for others and explore a better tomorrow while remaining true to my root.