Aaron Coby is participating in the Peace Corps' natural resource management program in Ecuador
Aaron Coby '95
Natural Science
Peace Corps Volunteer
While still attending Saint Xavier University, Aaron Coby, a Natural Science major in the School of Arts and Sciences, signed up for the Peace Corps. In fact, he took his last class during the six week winter term so that he could leave for the site in February and graduate in May. Needless to say, he wasn't there for the graduation ceremony. Instead, he was participating in the Peace Corps' natural resource management program in Ecuador.
Coby joined the Peace Corps for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that he still didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. Becoming a volunteer in another country seemed an ideal choice. It fulfilled the desire to contribute something to humanity while at the same time offering the chance to explore new places and cultures. The close community of Saint Xavier and his participation in the service-oriented programs offered on campus were certainly factors in his choice to volunteer two years of his life. Also, his degree in Natural Science was an ideal primer for the resource management work that he did in Ecuador. Coby feels those two years of his life hold some of his fondest memories and the things he accomplished while there go beyond just project-oriented successes. "I became more aware of myself and the world around me. Coming out of the Peace Corps I had a better sense of who I was and what I wanted to do," said Coby.
With that knowledge he entered into a master's program and eventually a doctoral program in Environmental Science at Indiana University. Being a doctoral student doesn't allow much time to devote to service-oriented ventures, but during spring break this year he was able to spend two weeks with his wife at a school on a Navajo reservation in Arizona. They volunteered their time to help with technology and science training.
"In my opinion, anyone interested in volunteering time should consider programs that use their individual skills or knowledge. In that way, you are more confident in the work you are doing and you become invested in the project as something that provides you with valuable experience while aiding others," said Coby, adding, "Even so, volunteering is almost always a rewarding experience, and I've found that I gain as much, if not more, as the people I'm helping."
