Why I Decided To Commit to A Year of Service

Like many other current Hawks, and countless Hawks before me, I have officially chosen to do one of the many year-long service opportunities available to postgraduates.

Reactions to this decision range from optimistic to downright confused, or worse yet, concerned.

I think it’s particularly hard for our parents’ and grandparents’ generation to understand why someone would want to do such a thing. I can understand where they are coming from, and I really do. My dad already had two children at my age, he couldn’t possibly think about doing something other than earning money and providing for his family. Can you blame him? So of course he and others of his generation have trouble wrapping their heads around the concept of a year of service. Why wouldn’t I want to get a “real” job? Why wouldn’t I want to make money? Haven’t I just spent thousands of dollars and the past four years earning a piece a paper to ensure a career?

Honestly, it’s not that I do not want a career, at all. In fact, the opposite is true. I am so excited to one day start my career. But, I know my career is not going anywhere anytime soon; it will not be disappearing once I step out of college without a corporate commitment. I have the rest of my life in front of me to worry about my health benefits and promotions.

But for now, I want to jump out of my safety net. I want to live somewhere I have never been, with people I have never met.

Why? Because I know that it will influence me to become a better, more considerate individual, to expand my comfort zone and continue to hone the values I hold.

I want to create and maintain relationships with people I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do with otherwise, learning about the struggles of others which I have never had to face.

Why? Because I know that it will help me to better understand the world, to be a critical thinker, knowledgeable and articulate in the opinions that I hold, and to continue to learn even after I have walked across that stage.

I know that doing a year of service may not be a traditional path to take. And I know that not everyone supports or understands my motivation to live simply for 12 months. But I have realized that it is okay; I do not need a unanimous approval in order to take my next step. I know myself better than anyone else, and I have to do what I feel is best for me; none of us would get anywhere if we were all constantly swayed by the opinions of others and what they think we should do with our life.

There will be one day where I have a 401K and a company email address and I look forward to that day, but those indications of success are not what I need to feel accomplished. I want to live my life knowing that I am continuing to grow towards the best version of myself that I can be, and that, above all else, gives me a feeling of accomplishment.