Laura Robinson, 26, of Cary, North Carolina has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will depart for Macedonia on September 16, 2016 to begin training as an education volunteer. Robinson will live and work in a Macedonian community to address the demand for English education.
“I am drawn to the Peace Corps because, like the organization, I want to grow my appreciation and understanding of humanity’s relationships across cultures. I want to foster global connections and open my heart and mind to diversity. The Peace Corps will offer humbling opportunities to serve others,” said Robinson of her desire to join the Peace Corps.
Robinson is the daughter of Daughter of Janice and William Robinson and a graduate of Apex High School in Apex, North Carolina, where she was a member of the track and field team and the National Honor Society. She was also a competitive and performance jump roper for the Cary Super Skippers. Robinson went on to attend Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in May 2012.
Prior to joining the Peace Corps, she taught kindergarten at Cardinal Charter Academy in Cary, North Carolina, and volunteered with the Appalachian State Wesley Foundation in Boone, North Carolina and the Girls’ Outdoor Club in Brevard, North Carolina.
“I applied to Macedonia specifically. The Peace Corps’ involvement in the education sector in Macedonia was the initial attraction, in addition to the culture and environment,” said Robinson.
During the first three months of her service, Robinson will live with a host family in Macedonia to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the necessary skills to assist her community, Robinson will be sworn into service and assigned to a community in Macedonia, where she will live and work for two years with the local people.
“Professionally, I hope to gain a greater understanding of global education, specifically. While my position is to help aid the implementation of English education in Macedonia, I am excited to learn from my Macedonian counterparts and students,” said Robinson. “Personally, I hope to see myself grow more globally aware and realize, to a greater extent, the connectedness of others across all cultures.”
Robinson will work in cooperation with the local people and partner organizations on sustainable, community-based development projects that improve the lives of people in Macedonia and help Robinson develop leadership, technical and cross-cultural skills that will give her a competitive edge when she returns home. Peace Corps volunteers return from service as global citizens well-positioned for professional opportunities in today’s global job market.
Robinson joins the 175 North Carolina residents currently serving in the Peace Corps and more than 4,240 North Carolina residents who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.
Click here to learn more about the Peace Corps in Macedonia.
