Emily Goldberg

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

My name is Emily Goldberg. I was born and raised right here in Tucson. I grew up going to everything UA related especially basketball games, my dad was an alum, and both my parents are huge fans. It just made sense for me to attend UA for college and I am very happy I did. I am majoring in Public Health with an emphasis in Global Health. I also work on campus as an EMT for UAEMS where I have served as both an FTO and Deputy Chief of Operations.

Where will you be serving in the Peace Corps? When will you start? What will you be doing? 

I will be serving in Senegal, West Africa. My tentative departure date is late February of 2023. I will be working in the Health Sector as a Community Health Support Agent. This means I will be working with the local Community Health Workers and our focus will be on Maternal and Child Health. 

Why did you want to join the Peace Corps? When did you first start thinking about joining? 

I have always wanted a chance to travel and work in the health field in another country, I just was never sure what that was going to look like. I changed my major from Physiology to Public Health after deciding I no longer wanted to go to medical school and was feeling lost with what I wanted to do. One day our Peace Corps Campus recruiter came into one of my classes and told us more about Peace Corps. It felt like I had found the answers to what I had been looking for and I started researching more about the program right away. I felt like my major and this new opportunity aligned perfectly and was so excited to get an interview and later be accepted! 

What do you consider the main benefits of being part of the Peace Corps Prep Program, and receiving the U. S. Peace Corps Prep Certificate? 

I believe the Peace Corps Prep Program was a great way to learn more about the Peace Corps. The competitive boost was a big help, but the major benefits come from being a part of the community. This is a big leap to take so being able to talk with Returning Peace Corps Volunteers and learning more about their experience with service was amazing. Each person I was able to talk to give me unique insights into their time abroad.

What other steps did you take to be a strong applicant for the Peace Corps? 

I took advantage all of the help I could get. I met with our amazing UA Peace Corps Campus recruiter Stefany. She helped me with each step of the process. Letting me know what parts of my resume needed to be updated, helping edit my personal statement and spending time preparing me for my interview. Without her I would have felt way more stressed and unprepared. 

Can you describe your volunteer work and extracurricular activities during your time at UArizona? 

During my time at UA, I volunteered as an EMT for University of Arizona Emergency Medical Services which is our student run 911 agency on campus. This was the highlight of my college experience. I began sophomore year as a basic EMT and worked my way up in leadership. I became a Field Training Officer to help train our new members. Later I became a supervisor which made me the lead on scene of 911 calls. Finally, I was Deputy Chief of Operations, in charge of our Training, Personnel and Public Information departments. I was also Chief on Call, available for any of the more intense emergencies we experienced and was able to debrief our crews on what they had experienced. 

What are you most looking forward to as a Peace Corps Volunteer? 

I am most looking forward to putting my global public health education and EMT experience to use in another country and help with anything that I can. I am excited to use all my experiences from my time at UA and bring that with me to my new community. I can’t wait to travel, experience a new culture and immersive in the language. 

Are you worried about anything? 

After growing up and living in Tucson for the last 22 years I am worried about leaving. This is the only home I have ever known but I am so excited to experience the world outside of Tucson and Arizona. The language barrier does feel daunting but overall, I am just excited to learn all that I can and jump into this new experience. 

What do you hope to learn from your Peace Corps experience? 

I hope to learn what it is like living in another country for an extended period of time. To see how Public Health works outside of the classroom in the “real world.” I am excited for the people I am going to meet and the ideas and experiences that I will learn from them. I am excited to learn about a new culture. I am ready for a new experience and excited to learn as much as I can!