Silver City, NM- The end is almost in site for Karina Marin. A Psychology major with a minor in chemical dependency, Karina came to Western from her home town of Orange Grove, California. She is currently in her last semester of her undergraduate career and had a lot to share from her accomplishments in her last three years at WNMU.
Karina has been a part of several clubs and has taken on many leadership roles on campus. She’s part of the Kinesiology Club, a group that consistently hosts events and is also widely known around campus. Aside from that, she is also part of MEChA as well as the American Association of University Women, an organization which allowed her to go to Washington D.C. this past summer and lobby with past members of the organization. During this past summer, she worked for WNMU as an orientation leader.
Aside from clubs, she has also done research with Dr. Jennifer Johnston about the effect that para-social relationships (the relationship between people and media) have on people. Being able to do research that showed more than just the “feeling” side of psychology sparked an interest for clinical psychology, a field she hopes to pursue in graduate school. Before that though, she would also like to take a year off in order to further research the right school for her degree. Her current project is conducting research about how love can be used to treat substance abuse, which is also the focus of her senior seminar.
Although she is excited about graduation, she is currently more excited about being able to see her mom, and introducing her to the love of her life- a 13 lb, long-haired mutt named Diesel. Diesel is a year and a half, Las Cruces native who Karina is the dog version of herself. She also says that he was the best present she received on her 20th birthday.
“I love to go on hikes/runs with him because even though he is a small dog he has the energy of a big one and keeps me going, ” Karina says.
Between such hobbies as cuddling with Diesel, watching The Bachelor on ABC, enjoying a plate of chicken, and participating in club events, Karina continues to work on her research, all while preparing herself for the big changes ahead of her after graduation.
“I used to think it was so far away, but now that it’s actually here my heart is full of joy!” Karina said, excited at the prospect of finishing college. “I also can’t wait to just decorate my cap!”
Additional Writing by Dayana Baez
