VALDOSTA STATE MAGAZINE 43 and Design faculty taught me so much about myself. They taught me to think on my feet and how to come up with original ideas. I am very thankful for being a student assistant in both the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery and the photography lab because those opportunities gave me teaching experience and lessons on how to handle several tasks at once. Valdosta State University: What do you think you will do after the Peace Corps? Sara Beth Hobbs: After the Peace Corps, I plan on coming back to the United States and going to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in photojournalism. As for my art, I am still creating artwork, and of course, since I am a photographer, I can always have my camera on me. I have just scratched the surface of the work I want to create here. get around town. One day I was heading into our training center for a group workout class. On the way there, I got into a bad accident. I was coming down a hill pretty fast and turned a corner. Moments before that, a group of kids ran into the road, and instead of running across, one of the kids just froze. I had no time to get around him, so we collided. Thankfully, we are both 100 percent healthy now. That was my most life-changing moment because it showed me the true caring nature of the people here in Sierra Leone. After I hit the boy, I flipped over my bike, hitting my head and getting road burn all the way down my right side. I passed out from hitting my head, and the community came together to get the child and me to the hospital. Valdosta State University: Most people who go into public service talk about the little things that bring them joy. What are the little things that bring you joy in that part of the world? Sara Beth Hobbs: Oh, that is easy. The No. 1 thing that gives me joy is seeing that moment when one of my students finally understands the lesson and their whole face brightens up. My second one is when I am walking around Kambia Town, and I get the realization that I actually made it here to Africa after all my years of dreaming of coming here. Valdosta State University: What do you miss most about home? Sara Beth Hobbs: I miss my family and friends the most, especially my mother. She has always been so supportive of me and whatever I decided to do in my life. I know for a fact that I would not be where I am today without her guidance and strength. Valdosta State University Magazine: How did your time at VSU prepare you for this experience? Sara Beth Hobbs: The VSU Department of Art Sara Beth Hobbs graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art on May 6, 2017. Photo: Sara Beth Hobbs.