"I am a Peace Corps Success Story, from beginning to end."

My name is Michael Carey and I am the founder of Peace Corps Coach Group. Lets start from the beginnnig. While walking to class my senior year of college I passed a classroom where the Peace Corps was hosting a recruiting event when overheared some Returned Peace Corps Volunteer  sharing their experiences as a volunteer in some remote community in the middle of the jungle as I peaked into the room. Rather than attending class, I felt a calling and took a seat to learn more about the Peace Corps and was hooked. 

The next day I began the rigorous application process and immediately felt overwhelmed every step of the way. Luckily, Indiana University offered an Essay Writing Assistance Program which I began to attend regularly and worked with a grad student to review and edit my Peace Corps essays. After much back and forth with the Peace Corps application department, all necessary application forms were submitted and then the waiting period began. While working out at the campus gym and doing post-cardio on the elliptical, a saved number under the name "Life" was calling and I was accepted into the Peace Corps! A week later I graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I then packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and flew to Panama to start the three month training process as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

 I did not speak Spanish fluently, I had no training in Environmental Engineering, and I had never lived outside of the United States, which I was upfront about with to the Peace Corps during the application process. However, I had welding experience which someone along the way found fascinating. Many challenges were faced during the Peace Corps and I felt alone. The community I was placed in had no running water, no electricity, no road access and very little phone service. It took two hours on foot to hike to my hut that was made out of bamboo, a thatched roof, and dirt floors. Over the next two years I won grants, published a children’s coloring book, held seminars, and helped build countless latrines and aqueduct systems. 

My Peace Corps experience was a success, but the emotional roller-coaster took a toll. I should have reached out for help and talked with someone, but my pride got in the way. My parents were worried about me and so were my friends, but everything on the outside looked great. After my two years were up, I traveled around the country and lived in an apartment in the capital until my visa expired. I then flew into Chicago to attend a Peace Corps Job Fair for three days and stayed at a hostel in the Loop. During the Peace Corps Job Fair, there were Non-Competitive Eligibility sessions, Resume sessions, an elevator pitches session, an interview prep session and countless presentations. I submitted my resume to every table during the job fair, gave my elevator pitch, collected contact information, and then sent off my follow up emails. The next day I took a bus from Chicago to Indianapolis where I visited family for the first time since being back from the Peace Corps. Two weeks later I received a job offer because of my Non-Competitive Eligibility and I was back on the bus to Chicago with only one duffle bag in hand. 

While working for the federal government, I received multiple awards, promotions, and opportunities to grow professionally. My personal life grew as well…more than I could have ever imagined. The federal government then offered a discounted rate for me to further my academic studies to which I graduated with the honors of Summa Cum Laude in the Master of Business Administration program from Champlain College. During this time, I became a life coach and studied in areas such as psychology, goal setting, and communication. I am a Peace Corps Success Story, from beginning to end. You or a loved one can be one too, what are you waiting for?