I feel like I’m in a game show.  I just finished a game and won the grand prize.  Its something that I have always dreamed of yet never really thought was realistic to achieve.  It’s something that the majority of the people in the world, and in the US specifically, will never been able to attain.  In many circles of people it is seen as a true indicator of character and mostly seen by those that will never been able to attain it, as an indicator of success and prestige.  It makes me feel good to look at it, makes me shed tears of joy to think that it could possibly be mine.  This prize is my current life – The close family that I have, the friends that I wouldn’t trade for a million dollars, the master’s degree I earned from a nationally known university, the job that makes me happy, makes me feel good about myself, and although there are days that I don’t want to go, overall, I can’t imagine ever being able to find another job where the people mesh so well, that I can bring skills and abilities that I am good at, confident in sharing, and have the ability to teach them to others.  How many people could ever even dream of having the same life?

The game show host sees the happiness and excitement in my eyes as I am jumping for joy at the sight of what I’ve just won.  I ask “Could this really be happening to me?  This is the grand prize of all grand prizes!”  As the host says “And that’s not all…” - my heart skips yet another beat.  I think to myself, “how can there be more?  What more can this man possibly offer me that will make this dream prize even better?”  The crowd hushes, the anticipation grows, silence fills the room.  The host continues to say “the game isn’t over yet, you just won the family life, the degree, the dream job…and if you choose, you can give it all back and go for door number 2!”  The crowd explodes chanting GO! GO! GO! And my heart sinks.  How can I do that, how can I give up all that I just received and risk it on something when I don’t even know how it will turn out.  I turn to the host and ask “Will it be better?”  and he responses “I can’t say for sure.”  I then ask, “Am I going to be happy with it?” and again he says “Its not for me to say…I just can’t tell you that.”

A million things are rushing through my head, “Why would I do this?, What would everyone else do in my situation?, What if I don’t like it as much?, What if it’s a mistake?”  As I’m dreaming about living with the prize I just won, I hear someone say “I’ll go for Door Number 2 Bob!” and only seconds later after the crowd explodes do I realize its my own voice.  I just risked the grand prize of all grand prizes for the unknown. 

The curtain opens and reveals two words “Peace Corps.”  I just won the adventure of a life time.