We recently received an inspiring Motivation Letter from a volunteer applicant that we wanted to share with our community (with her permission).
Isabelle is an alumni of a past volunteer Quest with United Planet in Peru.
Isabelle captured these images on her volunteer abroad Quest to Peru. She is now preparing for her next volunteer adventure in Costa Rica!
Isabelle recently applied for, and was accepted to, a program in Costa Rica working with preserving the habitat of sea turtles. Isabelle is looking forward to applying her experience in applying to colleges for marine biology studies.
Here is her letter:
Dear United Planet,
I am very excited that I was accepted to enroll in this volunteer abroad program!
I have not had the best time the past couple months. This opportunity has me overjoyed and hopeful of the future.
My last travel experience with United Planet is one of my favorite memories. I still remember how happy and at peace I was in Peru getting to experience the culture and meeting new people. I am very much a people person.
If there’s one thing I’m most excited for, it’s working with nature. I have always felt connected to nature, especially the ocean. I hope to one day pursue a career in Marine Biology, hence my interest in the Sea Turtle Conservation Quest in Costa Rica.
One big aspect that is motivating me to volunteer in Costa Rica is that I have family there. I have been told they love it there and since moving, they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. With the way it’s been described to me, I feel as though I might hold a special place there.
Aside from an outside perspective of the country, I love to travel. I love every aspect of it, even the airport process. You might think I’m crazy, but there’s something about the process of getting through TSA and preparing for a trip that excites me. I am a person who loves lists and organization, so well-prepared processes like those, make me content.
As I’ve said, I am a people person. However, that phrase isn’t broad enough to describe how I feel about the world, so I would say I love all of Earth’s creatures. I put in effort everyday to ensure that everyone is happy and well taken care of. I grew up with a big extended family, lots of family reunions, and spent lots of time with my loved ones. Along with people, I have also grown up with lots of animals, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, goats, donkeys, and sheep. We weren’t able to take care of our farm animals anymore and had to give them to our neighbors, but I loved every second with them.
My interest in the Sea Turtle Conservation Quest is not something I take lightly. I have been fascinated and excited about Oceanography my entire life. My favorite Ocean creatures are sharks, but I love all of its creatures, big and small. Participating in this project would be a dream come true. I religiously watch ocean documentaries and am very passionate about the subject. I plan on applying and going to University of California Santa Cruz in 2022 to study Marine Biology.
Though I may be excited about this specific project, I would also be happy volunteering for any environmental sustainability projects. My second choice would be the Butterfly Farm Conservation Quest. I love Butterflies and they are one of my symbols.
Some areas of voluntary work I would not be interested in include working with small children and elderly people, as I don’t have much experience with those age groups that need specialized attention and skills to work with in a meaningful way.
As a person, I would describe myself as creative, passionate, caring, and always up for a challenge. I never turn down a challenge and no problem is too big or too small. I take life as it comes at me and persevere through everything.
As I have said, this volunteer service project would positively impact my future as a Marine Biologist. Working with sea turtles will be a great experience and look very good on my college application to a college that specializes in marine studies.
I am very hopeful and optimistic that I will be chosen for this specific project, but regardless, I would be thrilled to work with any project that involves nature.
Thank you for considering me in your volunteer abroad projects!
Kind Regards,
Isabelle R.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
