During the PC application process there are three seperate instances when you need to describe your reasons for wanting to serve. The first couple questions are tailored specifically to your assignment (Why do you want to teach in a developing country?) and the others are more general. I only had room for 500 characters or so, but this is what I came up with. Maybe it will help some of you (mostly family, who think I'm crazy) understand...

A great friend once me what the most universal human emotion is, fear or laziness. I said fear. He then asked me what I thought the most prevalent American emotion is. I said laziness. There are reasons great and small which contribute to my want to serve as a peace corps volunteer at this point in my life; reasons which stem from a need to use my body, mind and soul in a way that reflects something much more than fearful or lazy American.
The physical and intellectual reasons seem simple enough. I am a healthy twenty-four year old college graduate with no outstanding responsibilities, other than to myself. I feel free financially, having paid the majority of my college loans. I am single and surprisingly, do not at this point of my life feel it urgent to find a husband and live the cliché American way. The only things I feel responsible for today are my happiness and my career as an educator.
The more emotional or spiritual reasons have been a long time coming. I have been fortunate to be able to collect inspiration from so many people in my life. My high school Art teacher, who I am still in touch with today, served in Bolivia as a small business volunteer in the mid-90s. I remember the day when she told us about her experience. Since that day, about eight years ago, I knew the Peace Corps was something I wanted to be involved in. After high school I started to research Eastern religions pretty extensively. Having been born into a predominantly Protestant family, and attending two private Catholic schools, I felt it was important to expand my world view and be more mindful of our intercultural differences. Beyond my Education classes at Plymouth State, I found myself signing up for classes like “Enlightenment, Love & Lit,” “Cultural Diversity,” and “Arts of the Far East” in order to fulfill my elective credits. Other influences have been my Grandmother, the most compassionate person I have ever known, my Father, who has been unconditionally supportive of every out-of-the-ordinary idea I have ever proposed, and my friends, the most original thinking, truth seeking people I’ve come to know.
J.D. Salinger summed up my attitude nicely: "Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior... Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them-- if you want. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement.” If I can fearlessly help someone, or teach someone, or possibly inspire someone to also do these things, I will feel more successful as a human being and if I am not lazy and can 'be the change I want to see in the world' then I will undoubtedly feel more successful as an American.