Provider Spotlight: Karina Barquist
Meet Karina, our newest Connection Specialist! She is a driven college student with a passion for psychology and mental health. Karina brings fresh ideas, great energy, and a creative edge (she even plays guitar!) Read on to find out more about Karina:
Where are you from/where did you grow up?
I’m born and raised in Eau Claire, WI. (Chippewa County)
When/why did you get into peer support?
I’ve been interested in psychology and therapies since I was a senior in high school. I’ve always wanted to make a change for the better and mental health is very important to me. I’m now on my third year of Majoring in Psychology with a minor in Pre-Clinical and hope to keep pursuing this wonderful job I have started this past summer.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
How loving and welcoming everyone is. Starting a new job which isn’t something just casual is a big step for me. I had a lot of nerves when just starting out, but thankfully I’ve had the best guidance ever and feel way more confident.
What are some of the challenges in your job?
I would say the only challenge I face is the management of school/work. I have a lot of assignments and sometimes I forget about the emails I should be checking for work! 😅😳
Any hobbies or interests outside of work?
I love to sing and play guitar along with hanging out with my close friends. If I’m really bored and the weather isn’t very great, you can catch me online playing Fortnite or snuggling in with some classic movies.
What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
There's too many great movies out there but one I could watch over and over again would be “The Menu” it’s a psychological thriller and if you like to be kept on your toes it’s worth the watch. Favorite books would probably be the Twilight saga, and then TV show I would have to give it to “Yellowjackets” which is also very horrific, so advanced warning.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
I would say that the problems in our life only make us stronger. We are the warrior of our own war of life and everyday we constantly are building skills and growing which makes those past “scars” beautiful to look at.
