Learning from what went wrong in the highlands of Ethiopia

This podcast of Derek Lowstuter, caught my attention since my initial site in the Peace Corps was also at 10,000 feet in Guatemala. I was also impressed that Derek graduated from Colorado State University’s Special Forestry Services program tied to the Peace Corps. His path of service was shaped as much by failure as success. Derek talks candidly about the lessons learned from setbacks in the field—how they sharpened his judgment, deepened his resilience, and ultimately guided the stories in his book Fiddler on the Road. His journey reminds us that the most meaningful growth comes from the failures we’re willing to learn from.