By Kelli DeWalt

Most seniors are gearing up for extensive interviews or finding that one last internship that will help them nail their dream job. Not film studies and production major, Carrie Hoffman. Hoffman is planning on joining the Peace Corps in January after she graduates early this December.

“I’ve always loved traveling especially to exotic locations,” Hoffman said. “I also have a passion for volunteering and helping out in the world.”

The Peace Corps seemed like a perfect fit for combining these two passions. Yet her love for helping others only started her summer before college. She went on a mission trip to the Bahamas with her church which planted the seed for her future endeavors.

After the mission trip she traveled to Kenya with an organization called Operation Crossroads Africa the summer before her junior year at the University. For two months she volunteered her time working with underprivileged kids.

“I treated it as a test run for the Peace Corps,” Hoffman said.

While at school Hoffman continued her humanitarian work by starting the University’s chapter of Schools for Schools along with three other students in the fall of 2007. As president of this organization that is part of Invisible Children, she helps raise money for schools in Northern Uganda.

However, she didn’t forget about her other interests. She interned last spring at Jigsaw Productions, a documentary production company. There she worked with Oscar winning documentary director Alex Gibney.

Currently Hoffman is focused on finishing up her film degree and waiting to hear where she’ll be placed in Africa for the next two years. She plans on making a documentary of her experience working with HIV/AIDS prevention and education to show when she gets back to the U.S.