Evette Suarez-Dracopoulos

With my time as a correctional and military police officer I was able to hone my ability to run security and understand human behavior. My role required keen observation to detect distress signs and the onset of mental health symptoms. This experience fostered a deep understanding of crisis intervention techniques, ensuring safety and stability during challenging moments. In daily interactions, I've cultivated a nuanced approach to communication, dealing empathetically with a diverse populace, many of whom struggled with underlying mental health issues.

Collaboration has been a cornerstone of my profession. Working closely with medical staff, counselors, and other service providers, I ensured the holistic well-being of the individuals under my care. This team-oriented approach is mirrored in the mental health field, where integrated care is paramount. My duties also emphasized the importance of detailed documentation, ethical decision-making, and confidentiality—essential aspects of any therapeutic role.

My tenure as a Sales Associate has been a journey of mastering interpersonal relationships, understanding consumer behavior, and responding empathetically to a myriad of client needs. At its core, sales is about connecting, listening, and addressing individual requirements, which, in many respects, mirrors the core tenets of the mental health profession.

Listening has been a cornerstone of my role. To effectively address client needs, I've cultivated the skill of active listening, discerning not just spoken words but the underlying emotions and desires. This keen sensitivity, I believe, is essential in a therapeutic setting, where understanding nuanced emotional cues can make all the difference in care delivery.

Building rapport and trust with clients was paramount to my success in sales. This ability to quickly establish a genuine connection and foster an environment of trust has significant parallels in the mental health field, where trust forms the bedrock of any therapeutic relationship.

Additionally, my experience taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience. In sales, one encounters a vast spectrum of personalities, needs, and challenges, necessitating a flexible approach. This adaptability, combined with the resilience built from navigating the highs and lows of sales targets, equips me to handle the varied and often unpredictable nature of mental health care.

Moreover, my role emphasized continuous learning about products, market trends, and consumer behavior. This commitment to ongoing education aligns seamlessly with the ever-evolving landscape of mental health, where staying updated with current research and methodologies is crucial.

In essence, my background as a Sales Associate has provided me with a unique set of interpersonal and adaptive skills. I am enthusiastic about transitioning these skills into the mental health domain, blending my ability to connect and communicate with the more specialized knowledge of therapeutic care.

My career as a Correctional Officer has embedded in me resilience and a capacity to manage stress in high-pressure situations, which I believe is invaluable when transitioning to the demanding environment of mental health care. My experience in facilitating group activities and managing complex behaviors further equips me to contribute meaningfully in therapeutic settings. I am enthusiastic about leveraging these transferable skills in the mental health sector, combining my foundational knowledge with continued learning and training in this field.

The challenges and responsibilities of being a Military Police officer have equipped me with resilience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of human behavior. Whether managing crowd dynamics, conducting investigations, or providing first response, the core of my role was always centered on people and their well-being. I am eager to transition these skills into the mental health sector, merging my foundational knowledge with new insights and training to serve in a therapeutic capacity.