Motivation Statement

Below is the statement I sent as part of my Peace Corps application in September 2007.

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When I came out of the closet at the age of 16, in rural Pennsylvania, I was the only out gay person in my high school. My parents demanded that I enter counseling to be changed, while a group of friends created a prayer group to save my soul and harassment from others persisted. This experience has instilled in me an undying fire of passion to create change. I learned firsthand what it was like to live in an environment with a lack of resources, no information about or support for gay and lesbian people. No one should have to grow up in that environment, which is why I have chosen to dedicate my life to changing hearts and minds about any people who are oppressed and underprivileged.

My experience and the emotional hardships I faced, however, pale in comparison to the plight of those living in developing nations. Through the Peace Corps, I want to utilize my passions in international politics, talents in grassroots organizing and strong motivation to create change. Through intensive experiences in electoral organizing, I have sharpened my skills of building trusted relationships with local organizations, creating and providing trainings that meet the needs of specific communities, experimenting with new models of organizing, and recruiting and mentoring volunteers, leaders and staff.

I am a creator who takes initiative and empowers people. I know that any change takes time, and attempting to be a catalyst takes great patience, self-motivation and inner strength as well as high amounts of flexibility and tolerance for ambiguities. These are the qualities I possess.

The skills set that I can provide the Peace Corps and the community it serves, in addition to my intense work ethic, strong drive, tenacity, persistence, and great sense of humor, makes me an extraordinary asset. Although I am proud of my experience thus far, I am very much aware that I have a lot to learn. I am enthusiastic not only about the opportunity to exceed expectations in this program but also the opportunity for enormous growth and learning throughout the process.

I also realize what a privilege it is to have the ability to write this type of statement. I am gay and very proud of who I am. That’s not something I can say in most developing nations. I have an ardent desire to organize and educate on HIV/AIDS in Africa. Since I am quite cognizant of the cultural differences, I am fully prepared to make the sacrifice and fully closet myself during the experience in order to do the important work I desire.

In the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are oppressed. Nonetheless, it is a great privilege to have worked for equality on LGBT issues. On a global spectrum, I see many more pressing challenges facing our populations and societies. I am ready to give myself fully to those causes.