Crawford joins Peace Corps
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“Helping those in need, living in another part of the world, adjusting to another way of life – I don’t believe joining the Peace Corps could be anything but worthwhile,” he said.
Crawford, 23, is a 1997 graduate of Warren County High School. He said the idea of joining the Peace Corps first occurred to him during his junior year at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, after talking with a friend who had already joined the organization.
“It sounded like a fantastic idea, something good to do with your life. Soon after that conversation, Sept. 11 happened and I realized the important thing in life is helping others,” he said.
After completing a grueling application and medical screening process, he was accepted into the program. He will join nine other American volunteers in committing two years of their lives to helping the people of Bangladesh.
During this time Crawford will be assigned to the country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports. His primary job will be teaching native children basic education skills, like math and science. He will also perform any general physical labor needed to better individual communities. In order to succeed he will have to become fluent in Bengali, the language of Bangladesh.
While in the south Asian nation he will be given a small living allowance which will allow him to live only a modest, utilitarian lifestyle.
Living modestly is essential to the success of Peace Corps volunteers, who do not need to appear rich and elitist if they wish to build relationships with the usually poor local populations they work with.
Crawford said he has no specific expectations about Bangladesh or serving in the Peace Corps and will go with an open mind and prepared for anything. He does, however, have more general expectations.
“I think this experience will help me see what kind of person I really am. I also think it will give me more peace with my place in life. After seeing people with real problems and seeing how they live I don’t think I will have much to complain about,” he said.
Family and friends top the list of things Crawford will miss the most while he is gone, but he noted he will also miss American food and sports. What he will not miss, he said, is “that part of my personality which wants to watch TV to pass the day instead of doing something constructive.”