It's February14th
and Katrina Buttner sits at the only place available, a shared table at Buchanan's
on the Hill, having agreed to be interviewed as an outstanding volunteer.
She's dressed for Valentine's Day in pink and white, but it's cold outside
and she'll have to wear her fur-lined parka when she leaves Boulder for Arvada
to watch her sister play basketball this evening.
She herself likes being active, playing on the CU
intramural volleyball team, when not involved in 18 semester hours of college
course-work. Where else does she take her love of the active life? That's
an important ingredient of her volunteer contributions.
She credits her positive, active stance to her giving parents; it's little
wonder to the interviewer who knows that Katrina is a psychology major and
mentor at the nearby mental health center, that clients with whom she works
appreciate her zest for life.
Originally a Colorado girl who had lots of ties to
friends and family, her longtime goal at CU was to be a pre-medical major.
As time went on, she became intrigued with psychology. She'll graduate in
May, take a year off to do clinical work, and proceed with education, perhaps
in forensic psychology (serving as an expert witness), a subject she's found
particularly intriguing.
As graduation came closer at CU, where she's gotten
to know the supportive faculty well, Katrina looked forward to her commitments
to psychology and its compassionate possibilities. At the Mental Health Center
Serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties, that all came together.
The Center has a program connecting mentors in their
desires to help youngsters. Combining her interests in a sports and arts background,
Katrina leads her partner in swimming, ice skating, sledding, and arts and
crafts projects. "It's a matter of what the client prefers to do, plus
my goal is to encourage a client to try new things." she says. "My
partner ended up loving diving, after lots of reservations. In the end, it
was I who was being coaxed off the board," she admitted. She's enjoying
time spent with her Mental Health Center client once a week.
"I also do group activities with adults for
a couple of hours a week, taking them to points of interest like Boulder Falls
during our time together. What stands out is getting to know someone and their
totally distinctive life experience. That's why working here is a great opportunity,"
says the college senior.
For information about volunteering with the Mental Health
Center or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.
