Beatriz York Costa Rica.

February 20, 2012

ASPIRATION STAT

! NT

Beatriz York Costa Rica February 20, 2012 A" T#e $ro%essio&a' attributes t#at you $'a& to use, a&( )#at as$iratio&s you #o$e to %u'%i'', (uri&* your Peace Cor$s ser+ice. I #a+e bee& )orki&* i& t#e %ie'( o% e(ucatio& si&ce 1,,- a&( I &o) #o$e to use .y $ro%essio&a' attributes i& or(er to #e'$ t#e $eo$'e o% Costa Rica i& .eeti&* t#eir &ee( %or trai&e( $ro%essio&a's. At (i%%ere&t /obs, I #a+e tau*#t, re+ie)e( a&( create( (i%%ere&t curricu'a a&( e(ucatio&a' .ateria's, I #a+e coor(i&ate( a stu(e&t e0c#a&*e $ro*ra., a&( I ra& a 'a&*ua*e a&( cu'ture ce&ter a&( a 'a&*ua*e e0a.i&atio& ce&ter, a.o&* ot#er (uties a&( res$o&sibi'ities. Re*ar(i&* .y teac#i&* e0$erie&ce, I #a+e tau*#t .i(('e1#i*# sc#oo' stu(e&ts, u&i+ersity stu(e&ts a&( a(u't 'ear&ers i& %or.a' a&( i&%or.a' setti&*s. For e0a.$'e, i& Portu*a', I #a+e tau*#t Fre&c# as a Forei*& 2a&*ua*e to ,t# *ra(e stu(e&ts at a $ub'ic #i*#1sc#oo'3 i& Sout# 4orea, I #a+e tau*#t Portu*uese as a Forei*& 2a&*ua*e to u&(er*ra(uate stu(e&ts a&( o$e& courses to 'oca' resi(e&ts3 i& 5a$a&, I #a+e tau*#t &*'is# to 5a$a&ese a(u't 'ear&ers as a $ri+ate tutor. Fro. 2006 u&ti' $rese&t, I #a+e bee& stu(yi&* to)ar(s .y P#7 i& T#eory o% (ucatio& a&( Socia' Pe(a*o*y )it# t#e S$a&is# 8N 7. 7uri&* .y %irst year, I co.$'ete( 7r. !ar9a No+o:s courses i& &+iro&.e&ta' (ucatio& a&( (ucatio& %or Sustai&ab'e 7e+e'o$.e&t, a&( 7r. 2ore&zo ;arc9a Aretio a&( 7r. !arta Ruiz Corbe''a:s course)ork i& 7ista&ce (ucatio& <7 =. I #a+e &ot o&'y *ai&e( e0ce''e&t k&o)'e(*e o% t#e sub/ects o% Sustai&ab'e 7e+e'o$.e&t <S7= a&( 7 , but I #a+e a'so 'ear&e( #o) to i.$'e.e&t S7 t#rou*#out t#e curricu'u., (i%%ere&t strate*ies o& #o) to create acti+ities t#at $ro.ote S7, #o) to (esi*& a&( $'a& (ista&ce courses, etc. Curre&t'y, I a. )riti&* .y (issertatio& o& t#e sub/ect o% Socia' Res$o&sibi'ity o% >i*#er (ucatio& i&stitutio&s. ?it# .y e(ucatio&a' back*rou&( a&( $ro%essio&a' e0$erie&ce, I #o$e to be ab'e to assist teac#ers a&( ot#er e(ucatio& $ro%essio&a's to i.$ro+e t#eir )ork@teac#i&* ski''s a&( .et#o(s, t#rou*# re+ie)i&* a&(@or (esi*&i&* e(ucatio& .ateria's, 'esso&1$'a&s, curricu'a, teac#i&* .et#o(o'o*ies a&( tec#&iAues, as )e'' as $e(a*o*ic a$$roac#es. A'so, I #a+e +o'u&teere( )it# se+era' or*a&izatio&s a&( I $'a& to use t#ese co&tacts to start .icro1$ro/ects usi&* botto.1u$ a$$roac#es. I )ou'( co&si(er, %or e0a.$'e, t#e %o''o)i&* or*a&izatio&s" art# C#arter I&ter&atio&a' <Costa Rica=, Naia <Brazi'=, A.erica& Associatio& o% Teac#ers o% S$a&is# a&( Portu*uese <8S=, >u.a& Ri*#ts (ucatio& Associates <8S= or T#e 8S Part&ers#i$ %or (ucatio& %or Sustai&ab'e 7e+e'o$.e&t <8S=. I& a((itio&, I )ou'( 'ike to be ab'e" a= To i&tro(uce S7 to t#e co..u&ity a&( i&to t#e sc#oo' curricu'u.3

Beatriz York Costa Rica. February 20, 2012

b= To create a&( o%%er 7 courses to co..u&ities a&(@or i&(i+i(ua's t#at %or so.e reaso& (i( &ot or ca&&ot *o to sc#oo'. c= To #e'$ t#e co..u&ity at 'ar*e to i.$ro+e t#eir &*'is#1s$eaki&* ski''s, t#rou*# co&+ersatio& c'asses <&o&1cre(it, %ree c'assesB=. I& t#is )ay, as a Peace Cor$s +o'u&teer, I )ou'( be )orki&* to)ar(s ac#ie+i&* 8N SCO !i''e&&iu. 7e+e'o$.e&t ;oa's <e.*. bri(*i&* t#e *a$ bet)ee& *ir's a&( boys: e(ucatio&, raisi&* 'iteracy 'e+e's, etc.= a&( by teac#i&* &*'is#, $ro+i(i&* co..u&ities )it# a too' to 21st ce&tury .arket$'ace, e.$o)eri&* t#e co..u&ities, $ro.oti&* .utua' u&(ersta&(i&* bet)ee& cu'tures, etc. 2ast but &ot 'east, I #o$e to #e'$ t#e co..u&ity to better u&(ersta&( t#e $eo$'e, +a'ues a&( tra(itio&s o% t#e 8&ite( States o% A.erica. !utua' u&(ersta&(i&* $'ays a& i.$orta&t ro'e i& ac#ie+i&* $eace a&( i& to(ay:s *'oba'ize( )or'(, Peace Cor$s core +a'ues are .ore &ecessary t#a& e+er. B" Your strate*ies %or )orki&* e%%ecti+e'y )it# #ost cou&try $art&ers to .eet e0$resse( &ee(s. For )orki&* e%%ecti+e'y )it# #ost cou&try $art&ers <!i&istry o% (ucatio&, sc#oo's, co..u&ities, etc.= to .eet e0$resse( &ee(s, I )ou'( %o''o) a $artici$atory a$$roac#, e&suri&* $artici$atio& o% a'' $art&ers )#i'e e&coura*i&* co..u&icatio& a&( (ia'o*ue bet)ee& a'' *rou$s i&+o'+e(, t#rou*#out (i%%ere&t sta*es. First, I )ou'( i(e&ti%y a&( 'ear& as .uc# as $ossib'e about t#e cou&try $art&ers <i&(i+i(ua's, *rou$s, or*a&izatio&s a&( cou&try at 'ar*e= a&( about t#e e(ucatio& syste. o% Costa Rica. For e0a.$'e, I )ou'( start o%% by co''ecti&* i&%or.atio& i& a %or.a' )ay <e.*., cou&try socio1eco&o.ic i&(icators, researc# $ub'icatio&s, (ata a+ai'ab'e o& t#e i&ter&et or at t#e $ub'ic 'ibrary, city #a'', etc.=, t#e& i& i&%or.a' )ays <e.*., t#rou*# obser+atio& tec#&iAues or usi&* ot#er Aua'itati+e a&a'ysis .et#o(s=. T#e&, I )ou'( a&a'yze t#e &ee(s a&( i&terests o% stake#o'(ers. For e0a.$'e, t#e &ee(s a&( i&terests o% t#e sc#oo' a&( co..u&ity ca& be i(e&ti%ie( i& a& i&(irect )ay, i& (i%%ere&t (ocu.e&ts <sc#oo' &e)s$a$er, curricu'a, sc#oo' $o'icies a&( ot#er (ocu.e&ts=, a&( i& a .ore (irect )ay, by eit#er s$eaki&* )it# stu(e&ts, teac#ers, a(.i&istrati+e o%%icers or 'oca' $eo$'e, at socia' *at#eri&*s or (uri&* %or.a' occasio&s, suc# as sc#e(u'e( .eeti&*s. Fi&a''y, I )ou'( i(e&ti%y t#e $riorities, a&a'yze &ee(s a&( $rob'e.s, a&( I )ou'( try to %i&( so'utio&s a&( )ays to %u'%i'' t#ose &ee(s. A *oo( .et#o( )ou'( be to $er%or. a& a&a'ysis o% stre&*t#s, )eak&esses, o$$ortu&ities, a&( t#reats <S?OT=, i& or(er to take a(+a&ta*e o% stre&*t#s a&( o$$ortu&ities, o%%set t#reats, a&( i.$ro+e )eak&esses. For e0a.$'e, I )ou'( i(e&ti%y i&(i+i(ua' a&( *rou$ co.$ete&cies, resources a&( tec#&o'o*y a+ai'ab'e, e%%icie&cy a&( a(eAuacy o% resources a&( tec#&o'o*y, etc. 7uri&* eac# a&( e+ery sta*e, I )ou'( try to (eter.i&e )#at too's a&( i&(icators )ou'( be best %or )#ic# sta*e a&( %or (i%%ere&t .ea&s o% e&*a*i&* stake#o'(ers i& t#e $artici$atory $rocess.

Beatriz York Costa Rica. February 20, 2012

;oo( $'a&&i&* s#ou'( $'ay a& i.$orta&t ro'e i& $re$ari&* a&( (e+e'o$i&* eac# sta*e, a&( sta*e tra&sitio&. A'so, taki&* i&to accou&t t#e o$i&io& a&( +isio& o% a'' stake#o'(ers is %u&(a.e&ta' %or )orki&* e%%ecti+e'y )it# #ost cou&try $art&ers to .eet e0$resse( &ee(s. C" Your strate*ies %or a(a$ti&* to a &e) cu'ture )it# res$ect to your o)& cu'tura' back*rou&(. 8&ti' $rese&t, I #a+e 'i+e( a&( s$e&t si*&i%ica&t $erio(s o% ti.e i& se+era' %orei*& cou&tries <S$ai&, Fra&ce, Be'*iu., Ita'y, 5a$a&, Sout# 4orea, C#i&a, etc.=. >o)e+er, I u&(ersta&( t#at eac# cou&try is (i%%ere&t a&( )i'' $rese&t (i%%ere&t c#a''e&*es. For e0a.$'e, )#e& I 'i+e( a&( )orke( i& 5a$a&, .y *reatest c#a''e&*es )ere t#e 'a&*ua*e barrier a&( cu'tura' (i%%ere&ces. O& t#e ot#er #a&(, )#e& I tra+e''e( to Ca.bo(ia a&( t#rou*#out t#e e&tire $e&i&su'a, I #a( to (ea' )it# t#e 'ack o% certai& *oo(s a&( ser+ices, a&( (i%%icu'ties t#at usua''y arise i& u&structure( e&+iro&.e&ts. I& t#e $ast, )#i'e 'i+i&* abroa(, I #a+e acAuire( a&( (e+e'o$e( .a&y strate*ies t#at #a+e better #e'$e( .e to a(a$t to &e) cu'tures a&( i&te*rate i& (i%%ere&t co..u&ities, as )e'' as to (ea' )it# cu'ture s#ock, %ee'i&* #o.esick, etc. I& .y o$i&io&, it is $ara.ou&t to be %'e0ib'e, res$ect%u' a&( u&(ersta&(i&* o% t#e (i%%ere&ces. It is a'so eAua''y i.$orta&t to s#are i&terests a&( e0$erie&ces, to $artici$ate i& 'oca' e+e&ts, to .eet 'oca' $eo$'e a&( to .ake 'oca' %rie&(s, to #a+e a& o$e& .i&( a&( to rea(@'ear& as .uc# as you ca& about t#e cou&try you are *oi&* to" t#e cou&try:s 'a&*ua*e, #istory, cu'ture, tra(itio&s, etc. Re*ar(i&* t#e strate*ies I )i'' use %or t#is $articu'ar assi*&.e&t, be%ore (e$arture I )i'' rea( a'' t#e i&%or.atio& o& Costa Rica t#at Peace Cor$s )ebsite #as a+ai'ab'e. T#is )ay, I )i'' #a+e so.e k&o)'e(*e o% t#e 'oca' socia', eco&o.ic a&( e&+iro&.e&ta' rea'ities u$o& arri+a', a&( use t#is k&o)'e(*e to better i&te*rate. For e0a.$'e, /ust to 'ear& about t#e $ub'ic #o'i(ays is a *reat )ay to start a co&+ersatio& )it# .e.bers %ro. t#e co..u&ity. It )i'' s#o) t#at you are i&tereste( i& 'ear&i&* about t#eir cu'ture a&( at t#e sa.e ti.e, you *i+e t#e. t#e c#a&ce to ta'k to you about a sub/ect t#ey are %a.i'iar )it#. !ost i.$orta&t'y, you ca& *ai& i&1(e$t# a&( %irst#a&( k&o)'e(*e about (i%%ere&t sub/ects t#at &o book or +i(eo ca& teac# you. 7" T#e ski''s a&( k&o)'e(*e you #o$e to *ai& (uri&* $re1ser+ice trai&i&* to best ser+e your %uture co..u&ity a&( $ro/ect. 7uri&* $re1ser+ice trai&i&* I #o$e to u&(ersta&( .y ro'e a&( co&tributio& to t#e $ro/ect, to *ai& i&1(e$t# k&o)'e(*e o% t#e $ro/ect, to *ai& t#e ski''s a&( k&o)'e(*e &ee(e( to best ser+e .y %uture co..u&ity a&( $ro/ect, a&( ski''s t#at )i'' #e'$ .e t#rou*#out t#e $ro/ect to .o&itor a&( e+a'uate $ro/ect outco.es as )e'' as $erso&a' $er%or.a&ce. Re*ar(i&* t#e $ro/ect I )i'' be assi*&e(, I )ou'( 'ike to obtai& i&%or.atio& about $artici$a&ts a&( stake#o'(ers, a $ro/ect re+ie) <$ur$ose, sco$e, .a/or (e'i+erab'es, risks, assu.$tio&s, etc.=, .y ro'e a&( res$o&sibi'ities, tea. ru'es, $ro/ect a$$roac# a&( o+era'' ti.e'i&e, etc. Aua''y i.$orta&t %or .e )ou'( be to 'ear& strate*ies to estab'is#

Beatriz York Costa Rica. February 20, 2012

e%%ecti+e co..u&icatio& )it# ot#er $artici$a&ts a&( stake#o'(ers, to beco.e a)are o% $ote&tia' c#a''e&*es@(i%%icu'ties a&( )ays to o+erco.e t#e.. A((itio&a''y, I #o$e to 'ear& t#e c#aracteristics@s$eci%ics o% t#e co..u&ity a&( )#at i.$acts t#e $ro/ect is e0$ecte( to #a+e o& t#e co..u&ity <$ro/ect *oa's=. " >o) you t#i&k Peace Cor$s ser+ice )i'' i&%'ue&ce your $erso&a' a&( $ro%essio&a' as$iratio&s a%ter your ser+ice e&(s. I a. $ositi+e t#at .y Peace Cor$s ser+ice )i'' be a re)ar(i&* a&( e&ric#i&* e0$erie&ce per se. It )i'' .ost certai&'y #a+e a 'i%eti.e i.$act o& t#e )ay I see t#e )or'( a&( u&(ersta&( (e+e'o$.e&t. Peace Cor$s ser+ice )i'' $ro+i(e a& i&cre(ib'e cu'ture i..ersio& e0$erie&ce a&( it )i'' *i+e .e t#e o$$ortu&ity to ser+e t#e 'oca' co..u&ity. A'so, it )i'' c#a''e&*e .e to be .ore creati+e a&( .i&(%u' o% t#e )ay I use t#e resources I #a+e a+ai'ab'e. sse&tia''y, I be'ie+e t#at a%ter .y ser+ice e&(s, I )i'' beco.e a .ore res$o&sib'e citize&, t#i&ki&* *'oba''y a&( acti&* 'oca''y. O&e o% .y as$iratio&s is to so.e (ay )ork %or 8SAI7 as a& (ucatio& O%%icer. As a Peace Cor$s +o'u&teer I )i'' be $art o% a $ro/ect i& t#e %ie'( o% (ucatio&, i& a (e+e'o$i&* cou&try. I ca& t#i&k o% &o *reater $re$aratio& %or bei&* a& (ucatio& O%%icer.