Meet Karissa Wahl, a member of the Honors College and a second-year public health major with junior standing from Mansfield, Ohio. She has a concentration in allied health and also minors in psychology, disability studies and community inclusion.
Wahl was particularly excited to visit and tour the Kent State University campus as a junior in high school, as both of her parents are proud Golden Flash alumni.
“My mom and I came in the peak of the spring season, so the campus was in full bloom and breathtaking,” Wahl told Kent State Today. “I almost immediately fell in love. I felt a sense of community and belonging that has guided my journey here so far.”
Wahl was able to establish her community through various clubs and groups she is involved in.
Wahl currently serves as the president of Tri Sigma Alpha Beta, the president of the Public Health Student Alliance and the secretary of the Pre-Occupational and Physical Therapy Club. Beyond clubs, Wahl is a part of two honor societies, Alpha Lambda Delta and the Order of the Omega.
Wahl is a certified peer educator and programming specialist with the Kent State of Well-Being at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Through this position, Wahl has had the opportunity to lead planning for Fresh Check Day, a mental health and suicide prevention event that seeks to educate and provide resources for students, to plan themed educational bulletin boards in 23 residence halls and to travel to Chicago to attend the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Strategies Conferences.
“Over the course of this 3-day conference, we got the opportunity to hear from amazing keynote speakers, peers from programs nationally, and we learned of invaluable strategies and approaches to apply here at Kent State,” Wahl said.
Experiences like conferences and community involvement help advance students' professional and academic careers, setting them up for success in the future. All of which Wahl will use in pursuing her doctorate in occupational therapy.
This semester, Wahl started her senior honors thesis which focuses on occupational therapy. The thesis will equip her with the skills needed to enter the workforce.
As Wahl is excited for the future, she remains grateful for present moments.
“Enjoy the everyday,” Wahl said. “College has flown by, and I encourage everyone to take a moment every once, and a while to reflect on where you’ve been and where you wish to go. I’m very excited for the graduate school days that are soon to come in my life and the bright future I am working towards, but it’s just as important to live in the moment and bask in the experiences and memories of now.”