Chapter 1: The Waiting Game

Continuing Promise 2015: Division of Dental Services

I had initially contemplated on applying and departing as soon as I graduated from UCSD in 2013; however, instead I chose to withhold my application for a year or two in order to attain research and healthcare experience in preparation to be a competitive applicant for medical school. And so, after graduating, I became a lab manager under the supervision of a neurobiology professor from Stanford University who was a recent addition to the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD. After extensive consideration and careful planning, I decided to apply a year later on June 2014 so that, in the case I were to be accepted, the date of my departure would be around June 2015, which would make the date of my Close-Of-Service at the end of Summer 2017, just in time to make it back to the States if I intend to complete a Masters Program. Here is a brief post-graduate timeline: 

(underlined dates are major events; bolded dates are related to the Peace Corps application process)

June 2013: graduated from UCSD

September 2013: began my first full-time employment as a lab manager/research assistant

Early June 2014: submitted my application under the old system

Late June 2014: in-person interview with a recruiter

Early July 2014: received a notification that the Peace Corps was implementing a drastic change to their application process 

**under the new system, you were allowed to directly apply for the country, sector, and position you preferred whereas under the old system, you served where you were told to serve** 

Late July 2014: nominated by the Regional Officer

October 2014: switched jobs; became a medical assistant at an Internal Medicine and Travel Immunization Clinic 

December 2015: applied to volunteer for the 6-months USNS Continuing Promise Humanitarian Mission

January 2015: received an invitation to be on the "waitlist" (know-by date was January 15)

Feb-March 2015: began my legal and medical clearance for both Peace Corps and CP Humanitarian Mission

April 2015: embarked the USNS Comfort 

Late May 2015: received an invitation from my Placement Officer to be serve for Peace Corps 

Early June 2015: disembarked the USNS Comfort (supposed to be till the end of September)

June 23rd, 2015: departed for staging; the start of a new chapter of my life in Belize

As shown above, in the month of March, I made a huge life decision to quit my medical assistant job, move all my belongings back to my parents house in Orange County, and participate in a 6-month humanitarian mission on the USNS Comfort as a dental technician/assistant. As a NGO student volunteer, I had the opportunity to embark on one of our nation's largest hospital ship and to work alongside professional military personnel who shared a common interest to provide free medical and dental care in eleven host nation countries across Latin and South America. Keep in mind, even though I was traveling the world, I was anxiously waiting for the final decision from Peace Corps that would determine the turn of events in my life. As the departure date for Belize was slowly approaching, I felt incredibly discouraged and continuously questioned whether I would be accepted. Coincidentally, our first mission site was located in Belize! (What are the odds right?) I was part of a team that camped for a week at a high school in Independence, Belize. Luckily, I had the pleasure of meeting current Peace Corps volunteers who stopped by the medical site to help translate the local languages. A shout out to the two volunteers, Sarah Schaffer and Justin Montrie, who were extremely supportive and rekindled my hope. I was able to continue the mission with optimism and a positive attitude. The USNS Comfort was on transit from Jamaica to Nicaragua when I received THE email from my placement officer stating that I was called off the waitlist. All I can say was: F-I-N-A-L-f*cking(excuse my language)-L-Y! It had been about a year since I had applied to become a Peace Corps volunteer and the wait was unbearable, I am sure anyone in this process can attest to that. Seriously, what sane person would wait a whole year and eagerly cling onto the slightest hope that he/she will be sent to an unknown, desolate country to deal with unimaginable hardships and undergo a complete lifestyle change? On the broad spectrum of emotions that consumed me, I was mostly disheartened to know that I was soon going to be leaving the ship, the mission, and the people I had grown a fond affection for on this deployment. 

In the end, I believe that everything happens for a reason; that something happens in that exact moment, with that exact person, at that exact place, in that exact way. In the present perspective, life may seem chaotic and disillusioned, but in retrospect, all the components seem to somehow connect in coherent perfection like pieces of a puzzle. It is neither accident nor coincidence; it is called fate. - Derived from Shantaram

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"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman

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