Volunteer Voices

My experience there was—and pardon my sounding like a Hallmark card—absolutely life changing. I have worked at addressing the issue of world peace and world hunger since I was in middle school. It has always been in the back of my mind and even since I was about 13, I knew that I would focus my entire life and career at making this world a better place (again, I apologize for the Hallmark card I seem to be writing.) I have even worked with groups on these issues outside of my state and even outside of the US before. Before Finland I had been to Philly, California, and Romania all in an attempt to work with other people who felt the same way I did and had the same hopes and aspirations. But there was something about doing it all in Finland that happened to make a greater impact on me. Perhaps it was the fact that I was the only American in a group of 15 campers and counselors. Maybe it was because I slept on the floor of an ancient train station turned into a Peace Station. Perhaps it was because I was traveling overseas alone for the first time. Or perhaps, and most likely, it was the timing in my life. I am 21 and about to enter my last year of college. Since day one at school I have been anxious to get out and actually do something in this world—do something for this world. As the college years crept by I began to panic at the realization that being a writing major does not bode well for a career in promoting peace (unfortunately, being a writing major doesn’t bode well for a career in anything.) Then I had the even greater panic attack at the realization that I wasn’t even sure there was a possibility for a career in the promotion of peace! But after spending two weeks with some of the most amazing people I believe I will ever meet, my worries were calmed.”

Julianne Appleton ~ Finland 2007