Gracie Krigbaum

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am from Phoenix, Arizona. I came to the University of Arizona because it is close (but not too close) to home and has a great Physiology program. I am majoring in Physiology with minors in Spanish, Public Health, Psychology and Biochemistry. 

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

I will be serving in Peru starting on September 8, 2020. I will be serving as a Community Health Facilitator.

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

I wanted to join the Peace Corps because I have always been passionate about helping others. Volunteer service has been a huge part of my life from a young age, and I am excited to get the opportunity to make a long-term impact rather than just committing a few hours per week. In the Peace Corps, I will have the opportunity to apply the skills I have learned in college, along with my work experiences, to help others. 

I first started thinking about Peace Corps my freshman year of college after a heard a short presentation about the Peace Corps at a club meeting. Prior to that presentation, I had planned on going straight to medical school after graduation. However, after hearing about what the Peace Corps had to offer, my academic advisor helped me figure out how to make Peace Corps work with graduate school applications.

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?

The Peace Corps Prep Program was great because it challenged me to take classes that focused on global issues. It also helped in the application process because it gave me a competitive advantage. Since I was applying for a more popular project, this gave me more confidence throughout the application process.

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

Meeting with the Peace Corps recruiter helped me immensely throughout the application process. Hannah reviewed my resume and gave me feedback before I submitted my application. Then, when I was offered an interview, she facilitated a full mock interview for me. All this help made me feel confident going through the application process.

I also highly recommend participating in a wide variety of activities. I have been involved in clubs, work experiences and programs abroad throughout college, so I had a lot to talk about during my interview. Challenging yourself to take leadership roles and traveling/volunteering abroad also make your application strong!

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

I have been involved with Sister Jose Women’s shelter as a volunteer and absolutely love it! This is one of the few volunteer activities I have found in Tucson where you really get to know the people you are serving.

I also was the Philanthropy Chair for Alpha Epsilon Delta, the health preprofessional honor society at UArizona. In this role, I organized 35 volunteer events with 20 different Tucson philanthropies, so I got to experience a wide variety of ways to serve others, from building houses to sorting books for kids.

The summer before my Junior year, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Vive Peru. This program allowed me to work directly with Peruvian healthcare workers, live with a Peruvian host family, and provide public health lessons to the children in the community.

Finally, I am involved in Housing and Residential Life managing a small staff of Desk Assistants at Babcock Inn.

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

I am looking forward to integrating into a community in Peru, and working with the local people to develop sustainable health programs.

Are you worried about anything?

I am most worried about leaving home for two years. I have an amazing group of friends and a loving family, and I will miss them! I also wish I was more confident with my Spanish. After years of learning in the classroom, it’s finally time to practice 24/7. I just hope everyone will be patient with me for the first few months!

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

I hope to learn about how to work with people, from an entirely different background, toward achieving a common goal. I also hope to finally consider myself fluent in Spanish!