Reach Out in other Parts of the World and Help Make A Difference

Hello my name's Joziel. After having completed five years of service in the Navy, I knew that I would need to give myself some time to think, reflect, and rediscover myself. Prior to the Navy, I dedicated 11 years of my career to the hotel industry. It was some of the most fun years of my life. I liked being able to help guests with all their needs and knowing that they checked-out of the hotel happy. I also got to travel and stay in our properties overseas a lot as a perk of a hotel employee. As fun and rewarding as it was, I've always felt that there was something that I could do more. Being a military brat, I've always had the urge to serve and follow my father's footsteps. So I said goodbye to the civilian world and joined the military.

My military experience was one of a kind, and I wouldn't be at this mindset if it weren't for my years in the service. Having had reflected on my past, I realized that I had failed to pursue my real passion, my real calling, and that is to reach out to communities that need attention and assistance so that its people can have a chance for a better life. I recognize that there are communities specially in developing nations that have fallen behind from the rest of the world. I also noticed that there is an increasing desire for English language education in the non-English speaking countries that I have traveled to. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of English language teachers, and there are also certain communities who can't afford to attend language schools to supplement their English language learning. This motivated me to pursue a career as an ESL teacher. I want to reach out to people from other nations, especially the less fortunate, and share my knowledge not only of the English language, but also my culture. This way, people who don't have access to resources will get the chance to develop other skills, and discover a world outside of their own therefor increasing their global awareness. As our world is becoming more globalized, and English language more of an economic necessity, learning the language could give people from these communities a better chance of improving their lives.

I'm volunteering four weeks in Peru, and five weeks in Colombia with IVHQ, a volunteer travel company that works with locally based organizations who will be in charge of my placements. Why am I volunteering and not applying for actual teaching positions? I thought this would be a good way to help communities in need while I gain teaching experience that would help give my resume a competitive edge later on. Aside from the English teaching program, I will also be participating in the community program in Peru where I could be tasked to help whichever sector in the community would need help the most, and the elderly care program in Colombia, a population that is currently neglected in the country. I was going to fund this all on my own but after paying some fees (and I still will have to pay for other fees and requirements needed to participate in these volunteer programs…who thought that you’d have to pay to volunteer?!), I realized that this is going to cause a huge financial burden to me later on. Fortunately, organizations like Go Get Funding exist that could help individuals like myself remain committed to volunteerism without having to carry all the financial burden.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. If you decide to pass, I thank you anyway because if you’re reading this, then that means you’re looking to donating to a cause. Again, thank you for your time, and thank you for reading my story.