Working for Peace Corps has been both everything and nothing
that I expected.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by
the professionalism, youth, ambition, and drive of all the employees I’ve met. The
unique agency has defied many of my expectations for what bureaucracy looks
like, and what the Peace Corps looks like today. (Let’s just say I’ve seen a
lot less red tape and tie-dye than I anticipated). However, every individual
that works here still reflects that stereotypical “Peace Corps” vibe in some
way. Some do it outwardly with obscure, imported lunches or cultural artifacts
adorning their offices, but many reflect that “Peace Corps” vibe only through
their personalities and interactions, which create an environment of love,
compassion, mindfulness, empathy, and adaptability that I imagine is unparalleled
in most (if not all) other professional settings.
“Peace Corps does not sell
widgets,” Director Stines Derenoncourt explained. It functions on the exchange
of information: what instructors are teaching volunteers, what volunteers are
teaching communities, what communities are teaching volunteers, and what
returned volunteers are teaching Americans. Cross cultural communication and
knowledge is the largest product of Peace Corps. True to form, the agency
prioritizes information exchange internally, as well, often holding trainings
and ample opportunities to learn something new. One of these programs is “Lunch
with a Leader,” which allows Headquarters staff members to meet with the Directors
of offices in small, intimate settings and ask them questions. I quickly RSVPed
and luckily made it on the guest list to today’s lunch after reading the bio provided
of this Director:
Sonia Stines Derenoncourt, Director of the Office of
Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS)
As Director of the Office of Overseas Programming and
Training Support, Sonia Stines Derenoncourt works to ensure standards of
excellence in Peace Corps programming, training, and evaluation. Inspired
by her Peace Corps service (Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 1989–1991) to
pursue a career in international public health, she has over two decades of
experience that includes working in Haiti, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal,
Cameroon, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia and serving as the country director of
Peace Corps/Philippines. She has worked with John Snow, Inc., to expand
services and provide technical assistance in family planning; with CARE
International to ensure quality reproductive health services; and with Catholic
Relief Services to coordinate and manage programs in food security, maternal
health, and HIV. Ms. Derenoncourt completed her Master of Public Health at
Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is fluent in French and
Haitian Kreyol. She and her husband have four children.
I went into the lunch hoping to learn more about
programming, seeing that I work in the Office of Communications and wanted to
branch out a little more. Little did I know that Director Sonia Stines
Derenoncourt would vocalize things I vitally needed to hear during my time at
WAIP. I decided to feature her gems of advice in my blog post for every WAIP
student (and every rising college senior) who is struggling to figure out their
place in this world.
First off, let me set the scene: immediately upon hearing
her speak, you can tell that Director Stines Derenoncourt is exceptionally wise and
self-actualized. She attests to the powers of meditation and journaling. She believes
that self-reflection is key to success and personal growth. As all OSU student
leaders can appreciate, she is also a fan of Strengths Quest. Her top strength
is belief which she thinks illustrates her need to do things that align with
her core values. This belief has guided her through life: it led her to pick
Peace Corps service over medical school and to continue her career serving in
many different countries with particular focus on international public health (even
with a family in tow).
Director Stines Derenoncourt had many musings during the
lunch that acted as epiphanies for me. First, she discussed how every single
experience you have had has shaped who you are today. She urges you to follow
those innate pullings and desires because they will lead you to the things that
you are meant to do. She also urges you to be open to your current situation. She
explains that every experience you have will serve you in the future. Even the
most mundane experiences will serve you in ways you may not realize you’ll need.
She argues that the most difficult experiences will serve you the most for the
rest of your life. Although you may not see it as a positive now, often the
most challenging times are what you will reflect back on positively because it
teaches you so much about yourself and strengthens you for the future. Her
biggest career advice was to keep your options open. Don’t pursue only one
role, but many roles and then ask a lot of questions and think critically about
which is the best role for you.
Director Sonia Stines Derenoncourt’s most recent passion is
pursuing a coaching license. According to her, coaching is effectively
recognizing one’s mind as a creative, powerful, and whole being that holds
untapped wisdom and answers. People have trouble connecting the information or
aligning the data they hold inside their own minds. The role of a coach is simply
to ask the right questions to alter the innate filters of the brain to help an
individual reach a solution or idea they need help realizing. She gave an
example of driving to work in the morning. You may notice every car that slows
down in front of you, but do you notice the number of trees you pass? A coach
may ask about the trees when all you can focus on is the cars, which sparks a
reflection.
Particularly this last passage was important for me to hear.
What filters are altering my perspective during my time in WAIP? Am I being as
open as I should be to the numerous opportunities and career paths we are
presented with here? Maybe I am focusing too much on the “cars” and accidentally
ignoring the “trees.” Thanks to both Katy’s very diverse programming and
Director Stines Derenoncorut’s advice, I’ve decided to ask myself unexpected
questions, pursue avenues that aren’t what I would usually choose to focus on,
and actively work to broaden my horizons during my time here in WAIP. I
encourage my fellow WAIP students to do the same because perhaps we really do
have the key to our future right in front of us, we’re just not looking in the right
place.
-Erin Yonchak
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