WS Chronicle

Jessika Caldwell to serve in Ethiopia

Two months after her graduation from Bennett College, Jessika Caldwell will embark on a journey of selfless service. Recently accepted into the Peace Corps, this senior leaves on July 1, 2013 as an English education improvement advisor in Ethiopia.

As an elementary education major, entrepreneurship minor, Caldwell felt like the opportunity fit well with her future goals.

“I love to help people, and because the Peace Corps has an education sector, I thought it would be a great first step since my overall goal is to be a foreign teacher overseas,” she added.

After spending a month and a half in Addis Ababa for training, Caldwell work in Eastern Ethiopia through Sept. 15, 2015.
“I think it finally hit me when I got my invitation to join what I had signed up for and that I had really just made a two-and-a-half-year commitment, which is huge,” the Belle said.

Even though Micronesia was her preferred destination, Caldwell is happy to make up the 43 percent of Peace Corps volunteers who are stationed in Africa. She admits, however, that she’s a little nervous when considering how she’ll be perceived by the native people.

“I was very excited to be accepted. Now, the excitement is over and nervousness and anxiousness has definitely taken its place,” Caldwell said. “I’m hoping that I will fit in and not be stereotyped as ‘the typical American.’”

Caldwell originally hails from Morganton. Upon finishing her service to the Peace Corps, she hopes to gain employment through Teach Away, an international recruitment agency for education.