A Winding Road to Ecuador: An Allegheny Alum’s Journey With the Peace Corps

Jack Mosey's journey to Ecuador began, of all places, at Tim Hortons.

A Pittsburgh native and Class of 2022 graduate, Mosey's college search started during his junior year of high school with one question that he threw out in jest with one of his teachers: Where's the nearest Tim Hortons? The Canadian fast food chain isn't as omnipresent in the United States, but Meadville's Park Avenue just so happens to boast one. Mosey had his answer, and it was only an hour and a half away.

While his question about Tim Hortons was lighthearted, Mosey and his father decided to visit Allegheny the following weekend. Little did he know that a campus visit would blossom into a role with the Peace Corps, serving as a TEFL volunteer in Ecuador.

The Future Takes Form

Being from Pittsburgh - just 90 miles south of the campus - Mosey had heard of Allegheny before.

"The way others had talked about their time [at Allegheny] made the prospect of going there feel whimsical, almost like it was Hogwarts," he said. "It was hard to have a conversation with an alum and not come away with a warm feeling about the place."

It wasn't until his aforementioned campus visit when Mosey saw his future beginning to take form. What sealed the deal? Mentorship, financial support, and study abroad opportunities.

I'd be lying to say that the financial aid and scholarship money offered made it a hard decision," Mosey said. "It let me breathe, and I'm still thankful for that.

During his campus visit, Mosey sat in a class with Professor of World Languages and Cultures Wilfredo Hernandez, who would later teach at least one of his classes every semester.

"He knew everyone's name, and there seemed to be a great dynamic in the room," Mosey said.

And after learning about Allegheny's study abroad opportunities, and a particular "Peace Corps-esque" semester-long program in Ecuador, Mosey knew he found the right fit for him.

Peace Corps was always part of Mosey's plan, following in the footsteps of his aunt who served with the Corps in the Philippines. Once he enrolled into Allegheny as an international studies major and Spanish minor, those aspirations seemed even more possible.

"(Plan) B" is for Banking

Mosey's journey to Ecuador, however, wasn't exactly smooth sailing. His scheduled semester abroad was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, and his future with the Peace Corps started to feel uncertain.

In the midst of the pandemic, Mosey had to start thinking about his "Plan B." When an Allegheny alum connected him to an internship opportunity, he turned his attention away from the Peace Corps and toward a career in banking.

In 2021, Mosey interned with First Bank of the Lake, assisting its Payback Protection Program loan forgiveness team. While working there, he discovered a love for working with small business owners and made plans to further pursue the field after graduation. In his senior year, he landed a job with PNC's Business Banking development program with plans to move to Tampa.

But eighteen months into his career, Mosey felt like something was still missing.

His Allegheny education had further fueled his global curiosity in spite of the pandemic-driven program cancellation, and a career of teaching and service was still calling his name.

So Mosey took the leap and applied to the Peace Corps. Six months later, he was packing his bags.

A Second Childhood

Flash forward two years and Mosey is now spending his days at the Unidad Educativa Zumbi, a public educational institution in the Zamora Chinchipe province of Ecuador. He spends his mornings and early afternoons teaching English lessons and crafting his next lesson plan.

But outside the classroom, the Allegheny alum explains, is "where the real magic happens." Mosey joined his students' garden club to help beautify their campus, leads his own English clubs, and works with the local Ecuadorian government to create summer camps.

Mosey's two years in Ecuador have been transformative and helped him learn how to navigate unfamiliar territory.

"I'd compare [my first year in Ecuador] to having a second childhood, but even more confusing than the first," Mosey said. "I learned the best way to get anything done was by never showing up to a meeting empty-handed, but with coffee and pan de chocolate … and if you show up every day with an open mind and a smile, things happen."

Those coffees and pastries paid off. Mosey has formed relationships with students that have lasted as they grow into adults, bonded with the local community over hours of soccer matches, and even raised $14,000 to establish an English learning lab.

There were many times where Mosey could have stalled out on his winding road to Ecuador. His Allegheny curiosity, he added, enabled him to not just forge on, but to be successful in the face of every setback.

"At the end of the day, take the leap," Mosey said.