If you have ever met Cait Crooks, an Admissions Coach at Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics (SWINA), you noticed right away that she is bubbly, super nice, has bright blue eyes, and absolutely gorgeous hair! (The kind that deserves its own Twitter account.) Honestly, it was such a pleasure to sit across from her and see her light up when she talked about the programs at SWINA.
Cait’s background was sales, and about a year ago, she was hired first by our sister school, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. She reminisced on her eight months there: “At SWIHA, I felt so in touch with everything; I was a sponge. When I first started, I just knew I was where I was supposed to be. And while I loved it over there on the other campus, I remember when I heard about this position opening at SWINA, I found myself daydreaming about working here! [Her eyes sparkle and she giggles.] I fell in love with this school, too, and as soon as I stepped foot inside, I knew I was where I was supposed to be.”
As she stepped into her new Admissions role, Cait realized that she plays a huge part in helping students become excellent aestheticians. She gets very involved with all of them, as soon as they walk into her office. She makes it a goal to personally connect with every one and be available to them if they need her. I asked Cait how this kind of passion and dedication developed, and she replied, “I love the process, and I love that I can be that person who is a big mirror for someone else. Helping someone connect with their passion is an amazing feeling. I hug every single person, because we make that personal connection in our time together."
As a new student, a typical meeting with Cait will entail a very thorough explanation of SWINA’s programs. Some highlights on the SWINA program include; sanitation, skin analysis, layers of the skin, anatomy, physiology, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, resume and interviewing skills. Also students learn the difference between working in a spa, salon or medical environment; the importance of the “conscious touch protocol”, and so much more. (Read more about Conscious Touch, designed by owner, KC Miller, through the words of Great Graduate, Ann Sherman.) Additionally, each student will have at least 184 hours of hands-on experience! As for her role, Cait always makes sure her students know that she has an open-door policy. If at any time someone needs something or has a concern, they can rest assured that she is always available to listen and help in any way she can.
Just like SWIHA, when you work in admissions, you have also had Life Coaching training, and this can be especially helpful when prospective students are struggling with some aspect of the enrollment process. I asked her to describe how it feels to be able to use this kind of supportive training in her job and she replied, “This job has given me the opportunity to be part of some of the most amazing moments in people’s lives. If I see a future student is in fear or resistance, I take them to the courtyard, out in the beautiful sunny day, where the birds are chirping, to help them ground themselves and make the connection. Then I’ll ask things like, ‘Where are you in your life right now? What does it look? Where do you want it to look lighter? And if you don’t come to SWINA, where would or you be, and is that the outcome you really want?’ Then I watch their eyes and wait to see the light shine through. Almost every time, I will see that spark and their smile, and I know I’ve done my work. I’m so glad I have some Life Coaching knowledge to utilize in my admissions process.”
One thing Cait learned, is that aesthetics is a very personal and in-depth field which requires its practitioners to be conscious and perceptive to their clients.”’The Aesthetics industry has always been of interest to me, but it wasn’t until SWINA that I feel in love with it. SWINA taught me that Beauty isn’t skin deep. It’s way more than that. It’s ‘a natural way of caring.’” She says both SWIHA and SWINA changed her life. After she started working for the schools, everything in her life began to shift in a more positive direction, making her feel more in tune with the universe and a more grounded individual.
What a blessing it is to have such a vibrant soul like Cait on our SWINA team, who has such warmth and sparkly, good energy! She loves it when students or graduates pop into her office and gush about their SWINA-experience (with the light still beaming through their eyes), saying things like: “Wow, I had no idea what I was in for!” Her encouragement and support has helped so many students already, and she’s ready for more! She said something to me that stayed, and I will share the profound insight with you:
“The Universe doesn’t give you anything you can’t handle.
You never get anything in life you shouldn’t experience.”
And then, of course, before I left, she hugged me goodbye. ❤
Find out what makes SWINA so unique! Read our Blog to learn more about our school and other Great Graduates.
Are you ready to make a change in your life and have a rewarding career in aesthetics? You can contact Cait Crooks or call the school to schedule an appointment.
