August 9, 2005: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: South Bend Tribune: Karie Karasiak leaving for Dominican Republic as Peace Corps Volunteer
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August 9, 2005: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: South Bend Tribune: Karie Karasiak leaving for Dominican Republic as Peace Corps Volunteer
Karie Karasiak leaving for Dominican Republic as Peace Corps Volunteer
According to a ninth-grade writing assignment, Karie Karasiak's lifelong goals are to become a singer and a writer and to join the Peace Corps to "help kids in Africa." It's eight years later and she'd forgotten all about the English paper -- until her mom dug it out -- but joining the corps is exactly what she's doing. She'll leave on Sept. 7, her 22nd birthday, for the Dominican Republic for a 27-month tour.
Karie Karasiak leaving for Dominican Republic as Peace Corps Volunteer
Fulfilling lifelong goal of service ; Penn grad headed to Dominican Republic with Peace Corps
Aug 9, 2005 - South Bend Tribune
According to a ninth-grade writing assignment, Karie Karasiak's lifelong goals are to become a singer and a writer and to join the Peace Corps to "help kids in Africa."
It's eight years later and she'd forgotten all about the English paper -- until her mom dug it out -- but joining the corps is exactly what she's doing.
She'll leave on Sept. 7, her 22nd birthday, for the Dominican Republic for a 27-month tour.
It's easy for Karasiak to sum up why she's joining.
"Not everyone is as fortunate as me," she said. "I've been given a lot of gifts and I've always had encouraging people around me. Now it's my turn to give back."
While she's flirted with the possibility of joining since she was 13, Karasiak said she began seriously considering it about two years ago.
With a bachelor's degree in Spanish for social and community services, Karasiak is excited to have been assigned to a Spanish- speaking country.
She'll work with local people -- likely in a poor, rural area -- to help them identify opportunities for economic growth within their community.
She's not sure what her living conditions will be like, but suspects electricity will be unreliable and there may not be running water.
The corps will give her a monthly stipend of about $250 to cover expenses.
She'll miss her warm bed, air conditioning in the summer and hot showers, she said. But, she's most concerned about being separated from her twin sister, Kacie.
"This is the first time we'll be apart," she said, "But, she has her own goals and I have mine."
Karasiak knows she can't change the world in two years.
But, she said, if she can have a positive influence on one little corner of it, she'll consider her time spent with the corps a success.
When she returns from serving with the Peace Corps, she'd like to go to graduate school. After that, she's not sure where life will take her.
A professional singing career is probably out, but maybe she'll start a nonprofit organization to benefit Hispanics. Or, she might pursue an advanced degree so she can teach college. And, there's always the possibility of becoming an author.
Until then, she's mentally preparing herself for the first leg of her journey.
"I'm reading, writing and praying a lot," she said.
Staff writer Kim Kilbride:
kkilbride@sbtinfo.com
When this story was posted in August 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: South Bend Tribune
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