Senior Zoe Slattery is a person who has always marched to the beat of her own drum and this beat has recently led her to a very unique opportunity in life: she’s joining the Peace Corps! Zoe will be moving to Togo, Africa for twenty-seven months this coming June to work as a middle school teacher. She will also be organizing community programs that focus on promoting gender equality. Zoe is a born leader, a strong female, and an admirable human being who is dedicating the next two years of her life to helping others. Her story reminds us all to embrace the spontaneity of life and remain true to the self.
What made you want to get involved in the Peace Corps?
Originally, I got involved because it offers an opportunity to help others and travel the world. The reason I chose the Peace Corps over any other public service organization is because of the demographic they serve. Something that I’m really interested in and something I’m really good at is helping those that need it the most.
Where will you be moving in June?
My placement is in Togo, Africa. Its a really teeny-tiny country in West Africa. It’s right next to Gana…on the under boob of Africa. That’s how I would describe it.
What exactly will you be doing in your placement?
I will be teaching English in a middle school – that’s half of my placement. The other half is promoting gender equality in the community, which could involve anything from a summer camp to a sports league. I’m also really involved in special olympics here in La Crosse and in my interview they said I could possibly get something like that started in the community. It just depends on the needs of the girls and the community itself.
Zoe has a passion for Special Olympics.
What are you most excited about?
On kind of selfish level, I’m really excited to learn about myself. I’m excited to become a better teacher and at the same time truly challenge myself. On more of a selfless level, I’m excited to inspire kids and help them overcome their own challenges. I’m excited to teach them and form meaningful relationships with them.
What are some of the stresses that you have had to overcome in making the decision to join the Peace Corps?
I would say one of the biggest stresses I’ve had is financial stability. The Peace Corps is volunteer work so I won’t be getting paid and I have a buttload of loans to pay back, but they will be deferred for the time I’m there. So that’s nice. Another stressor is of course my family. Some of them have not been supportive of my decision and it goes deeper than them just missing me. It’s basically them trying to deter me from doing this and that has been extremely hard because this is something I’m passionate and excited about. Not having their support is hard because what I’m doing is so different from all my peers and it makes me second guess myself sometimes. Like should I just go get a job in Madison? Then, I have to think that I’ve never really been the same as everyone else. I’ve never just done what everyone else is doing. In order to make myself happy and live the life I want to live I have to take a track that’s right for me, even if that track is a little off the beaten path.
Zoe has always been a little different.
In what ways do you think you will grow as a person?
I think this experience will broaden my perspective on the world. If I come back to America and continue to teach after my placement, my first hand experiences will allow me to be a more authentic teacher.
What do you know about the culture of Togo?
One interesting thing I’ve learned is that its a term of endearment to tell someone they look “fat” because it’s a sign of being healthy and well-fed. So that speaks a lot about their culture as compared to ours. The cultural difference that I’m most looking forward to is how slow everything moves there. I’ve been told to be prepared to wait and to expect everything to start later than its supposed to. Mail will take two to three weeks and I won’t have a cell phone or Wi-Fi and I’m excited to just be a disconnected for a while. Life is so fast paced in America. On another note, Togo also has a very big drinking culture so that will be interesting. I have to get used to drinking palm wine.
What are your plans for after the Peace Corps?
I used to think I was doing this almost as an escape for two years, just to pause life here and go away for a little while. That mindset has shifted though. Instead of looking at it as me running away, I’m looking at it more as me running toward something that will truly make me a better person. I don’t have an answer to that question right now because I could be a totally different person in two years. I’m really excited to see where I will be in two years; I can’t even imagine where I will be in two years. I could see myself doing absolutely anything and that’s exhilarating.
Any final thoughts?
My closing statement would have to be on this idea of going on your own path in life. So many times people will tell you ‘no’ and second guess your decisions, but at the end of the day you just have to say: “screw everybody else,” and do what makes you happy.