07/12/2024
W𝙴 𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙱𝙲𝚂𝙾
𝒮𝓉𝒶𝒻𝒻 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓈
The minute you meet Haylee Silvia, 20, you know she is going places.
An intern for the Programs Dept. of the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office, Silvia will tell you almost immediately that she is enrolled in an “accelerated program.” She will get a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s degree in addiction counseling in five years.
Silvia will also tell you, she’s a first-generation college student at Johnson & Wales University’s Downcity Campus, and academics are her priority. She has a 3.96 GPA. (I asked.)
“I’ve wanted to be an addiction counselor since I was 14 years old,” Silvia said. “I’m very dedicated. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Like so many families, addiction bored holes in her family tree. Both an aunt and uncle died from overdoses. She has always wanted to stop others from having to experience the pain she has gone through because of substance use disorders.
The majority of incarcerated individuals are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Much of our staff’s work revolves around treating the disease. Silvia has been shadowing Treatment Specialists Dave Lundrigan and Michelle Thomas-Burgo.
“Michelle and Dave have been amazing mentors,” she said.
The most eye-opening part of working with incarcerated individuals “is that anybody can be in their shoes,” Silvia said. “That could have been me. Everyone is human and makes mistakes.
“I’ve never had a negative experience with any of the (incarcerated) women I’ve worked with here,” she said. “That is not what I expected. They bring so much to the table. We are helping them. But they are teaching us.”
A Falmouth native, Silvia is now seriously considering coming back here as a counselor when she’s done with school.
“It’s so rewarding to see the (incarcerated individuals) leave and move onto better things,” she said.