Karen Stone

Background

About Karen Stone

After returning home from an 18 month full-time service opportunity in Brazil, I realized that there was something missing in my life. Without that daily interaction with people through service and communication, I felt incomplete. This helped me to realize that I never wanted to live my life without finding ways to connect with and make a difference in people's lives. The fulfillment that interacting with people brings me has led me to seek out opportunities to connect with others in a wide range of situations. Working with individuals with intellectual, learning, and physical disabilities as well as those who have faced abusive situations have helped me to improve my communication skills both through active listening and being cognizant of each person's situation. My understanding and appreciation for a diverse group of people have grown, increasing my ability to relate to others and be more understanding. My roles both meeting with students as a school counseling intern and working with adults with disabilities at Chrysalis provided the opportunity for me to develop greater flexibility and put in extra effort to adapt my interactions and services provided to the needs of the individual. Through my work and volunteer experience, I have consistently noticed how much of a difference is made when you go out of your way to provide quality care and service to others. The way to impact the world is by impacting the lives of each individual. Communication, listening, problem solving, collaboration, and adaptability are essential to both human interaction and making a difference in people's lives. In each endeavor I pursue in the future, I will continue to go the extra mile to provide support to help others to live a better quality of life, find success, and achieve their goals and dreams.