People aren ' t going to look at you as weak because you ' re going through something or because you don ’ t know . Still , it brings people closer to you because they see that you ' re authentic . You ' re not trying to be somebody you ' re not and put on this toughness saying , and I am the boss and , I have it all together .”
the letters behind the name don ' t get to the core or define who she is .
The same is true for her instant push into the spotlight . Sandra doesn ' t see any of the opportunities afforded her through all her appearances and recognition as anything other than a public service driven by her dedication to helping others . She insists that lessons in humility were " taught to us by our grandparents who consistently warned us not to brag and boast , as that didn ' t get you anywhere ."
Citing the authenticity of her grandmother , Sandra felt it necessary to heed those cautions convinced “ that ' s always been an ingrained part of my DNA . I don ' t know any other way . I find it very hard to talk about myself because that ' s not usually who I am , but if there ' s anything you want to know , I ' ll tell you .”
Sandra believes in the power of sharing your vulnerabilities , convinced that “ it ' s okay as a leader to share your vulnerabilities . People aren ' t going to look at you as weak because you ' re going through something or because you don ’ t know . Still , it brings people closer to you because they see that you ' re authentic . You ' re not trying to be somebody you ' re not and put on this toughness saying , and I am the boss and , I have it all together .”
According to Sandra , COVID taught her that we didn ' t have it all together “ because there were many days that I didn ' t have the answers .” And I was okay saying , I don ' t know the answer to that , but I ' ll find out , or what do you think we should do about that ? So , my leadership is collaborative and partnering , for solutions is very important to being a leader . That comes from embracing my vulnerability , still choosing to act , seeking answers , and soliciting advice to get better .
Coping Mechanisms
Sandra credits her personality of engaging in reflection every day as one of her most valuable tools for coping in the most challenging times . " Reflection helps me manage mental fatigues . I go home and sit quietly , unload , process , and file it all away . I am then able to go back the next day , feeling refreshed ." She also shared that she learned transcendental meditation ( TM ) during the pandemic , which she credits for helping her stay centered .
Citing her closeness with her brother , who she describes as her best friend and confidant , Sandra shared the importance of having a confidant and support system . " We ' ve been talking a lot ever since we were growing up , and we still talk a lot . I feel comfortable sharing my feelings with him without feeling judged . I can let my guard down , cry on his shoulders if I need to . We joke a lot about different things . He is always there for me . He is one of my biggest supporters and defender .”
In addition to reflection and sharing with her brother , Sandra rounds out her support system with friends that she does ' stuff ' with or will go out to dinner with . She treasures her long walks and , for that matter , anything outdoors . Yet while Sandra insists that she is not a dancer and might be the only Jamaican who can ' t dance , I enjoy a nice party , and I love music .
Quickly becoming nostalgic , Sandra underscored her love for music , " My father had a sound system growing up , so I grew up around music and loved all music genres ." In addition , Sandra loves fashion , shoes , a string or two of pearls , and dressing up every opportunity she gets --- and she ’ s a sneakerhead with quite a collection .
It ’ s the feeling that people value me as a person , as a leader , and that I make a difference in people ' s lives . That keeps me going daily and keeps me going back to work .
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