Catherine Magill chose Senegal to increase her French skills and to gain a better perspective of a another culture
Change is inevitable
Catherine Magill chose Senegal to increase her French skills; she chose Peace Corps to gain a better perspective of a another culture.
"I wanted to get to know what life was like on the most basic level in a developing country, and I thought Peace Corps was the best way to do that," Magill said.
Magill, 23, graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in linguistics and pre-med. Born and raised on the Southside of Indianapolis, she will depart for Senegal in March and serve there for two years.
"I hope it changes me and, as a result, changes other people," Magill said. "It's going to be really different."
Magill loves to travel and recently returned from a trip that took her throughout Europe. She's fluent in German and is learning to speak French, but Magill wants to be absorbed into the culture, not just learn the language.
"My goal in going is not trying to change me," Magill said. "Inevitably, it will. There's not a doubt in my mind. When in Europe, when you live in and develop relations with other people who are different than you, you are constantly confronted with ideas and thoughts and ways of living. You have to think about it and learn how to deal with it, especially when you are confused or upset."
She planned on a master's in public health degree before joining the Peace Corps, but decided on enlisting first, so she would not have any preconceived notions of helping others.
"You can't expect to go in there and change a culture," Magill said.
Deep down, her reasons are more intrinsic than external. She simply wants to learn and experience a different perspective on her own culture.
"Nothing will really prepare me for what I will experience, learn and have to face. The relationships I develop will be above and beyond anything I've ever experienced in my whole life."
