Feature: ORCA's Counseling Intern, Ms. Johnson

This year, ORCA’s counseling team welcomed intern Karen Johnson. 

Ms. Johnson is a graduate from University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a minor in business administration. She is currently attending Oregon State University to complete a Masters of Counseling to become a school counselor.

Ms. Johnson spends her free time with her family, especially enjoying her time with her two nieces and five nephews. She enjoys the outdoors, watching thrillers, and “baking all sorts of sweets.”

Her journey to ORCA began at the start of her first internship at a brick-and-mortar school. “Having experience in both brick-and-mortar and online settings increases my skillset as a counselor-in-training,” Ms. Johnson wrote. “I was drawn to ORCA specifically because of its mission statement, curated curriculum aligned with state academic standards, the four Cs (critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity), and its emphasis on providing an inclusive, supportive environment.”

Ms. Johnson has always been fascinated by the human mind and its behavior. While in high school, she was given the opportunity to take a Child Psychology course and to participate in a job shadow program—both led to the pursuit of a career in psychology. “My passion has always been to help others,” she explains. “I simply found the place where my passions and skills aligned, which happened to be psychology and more specifically, school counseling.”

Taking the internship route held many benefits for Ms. Johnson. The hands-on experience influenced her college education by “providing an opportunity for practical application of the content and skills learned in the classroom.” It also provided a chance to work directly with students and families, as well as for collaboration and consultation with working school counselors. “The practical application, hands-on experience, collaboration and consultation, and supervision all help me move towards my career goals by providing invaluable  experience—experience that can’t be learned in a textbook.” 

To students considering post-secondary options, Ms. Johnson encourages taking advantage of real-world opportunities. “If you’re interested in cooking, talk to a local chef or line up a job shadow experience at a local restaurant,” she said. Ms. Johnson also urges students to explore their interests, personality, and aptitude assessments.

“Don’t be afraid to change course!” Ms. Johnson said. “If you realize the pathway  you chose isn’t the right fit, go back to the drawing board—it’s not too late to find the right pathway for you.”