From Career Exploration to Global Impact

From Uncertainty to Impact: ASU Alumna Hope Carlisle Embarks on Peace Corps Journey

Taking the first step to finding guidance helped Hope Carlisle transition from an uncertain student to a global changemaker.

Carlisle was a career peer at Career Services during her time at Arizona State University, where she helped her peers with resumes as well as how to prepare for interviews and pick the right career. Carlisle felt she was no longer clear about the direction she wanted to take in her study of political science and global studies. But with the guidance of Christine De La Cerda, ASU’s assistant director of career management, she discovered her profession: foreign service.

A Passion for Global Immersion

Carlisle’s passion for international experiences did not begin with her upcoming service with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. It was first kindled by a six-week study abroad program in Madrid, Spain.

“That experience was completely immersive,” she shared. “Though it wasn’t as rigorous as the experience ahead, I realized fully how much I enjoy traveling and exploring diverse cultures.”

With a determination to expand her global footprint, Carlisle set her sights on a Spanish-speaking nation for her Peace Corps service. Because she wants to work in education, she has selected the role of a literacy promoter, which will require her to work with students in the Dominican Republic on reading skills development and Spanish language enhancement.

Becoming a Cultural Bridge

For many communities that host Peace Corps volunteers, this program serves as a gateway to first-hand knowledge of American culture. That latter effort is necessary because these volunteers ultimately define that impression.

“In this community, I’ll be the first American many of them have ever met,” she said. “That’s a huge responsibility—I want to represent the best of American values.”

The Path to the Peace Corps

Getting accepted to the Peace Corps requires more than passion because the application process is very competitive. Carlisle wrote a strong personal statement that explained her motivation and then sealed her application with academic transcripts. She turned to Career Services at ASU for career exploration assessments, resume reviews, and one-on-one sessions to help her navigate the daunting process.

She also attended Peace Corps info sessions and connected with past volunteers who gave her tips through LinkedIn messages. She successfully went through the application process because her efforts paid off.

A Future Without Limits

Carlisle finds the most thrilling part of this journey: full cultural immersion. Despite having to switch to a new country, language, and lifestyle, which brings forth nervousness, she believes the prospect of making a difference and developing through the experience outweighs the discomfort. When thinking about her future life after the Peace Corps, she has not made any firm plans.

“A lot of volunteers end up staying in the countries they serve because they fall in love with them,” she said. “I’m trying not to plan too far ahead—I just want to embrace the experience and see where it takes me.”

Resources you might find useful, along with application tips, are presented on the Peace Corps website for anyone planning to make a difference worldwide. From choosing a particular country for your journey to accepting worldwide opportunities, Carlisle’s initial move can connect you to an incredible experience, just as it did for her.

Follow her journey as she serves in the Dominican Republic.