Karissa Finnigan on emotional intelligence in university, sports, and launching a career

Karissa Finnigan has graduated from Concordia College with an interest in genetic counselling. She is passionate about patient care and helping people of all ages find comfort in diagnoses outside their control. She is also an EITC team member, working behind the scenes to keep team members organized and customers having a smooth experience, but most especially, helping bring more emotional intelligence into the world.

Where did your love of softball begin?

It’s always been a sport that’s been a part of my life, and I love it! Early on, I joined travel teams, which allowed me to meet new people and the coach who eventually recruited me to come to Concordia. Being able to continue playing through university was a dream. I also realized that it would probably be my last opportunity to compete at a higher level (I’m definitely not going to the Olympics!) so to be able to play with my friends and peers is something I couldn’t say no to.

What kind of leadership role did you have on your softball team?

During my last year, I became a captain. In this role, I was a support system for my teammates but also a link between the girls and our coach staff. 

My responsibilities included fostering team cohesion, uplifting morale, and ensuring effective communication. Additionally, I worked closely with coaches to rely on feedback from the team and address any issues. My role required me to balance authority and approachability, trying to make sure everyone felt valued and heard while focusing on the team’s drive and focus. This experience taught me the importance of empathy, teamwork, and resilience. 

Were you excited about taking on that position?

Absolutely. I was able to help our team reach their fullest potential. In the past, we had some challenges with leadership, so I wanted to make it more positive. Using some principles from EITC has been helpful in achieving that.

Have you taken any EITC courses?

Yes! I sat in on one and loved learning about emotional intelligence and the EQ-i 2.0. The EQ-i is an assessment for measuring someone’s emotional intelligence. And, it was really interesting to see how it could all be applied in real life. 

Do you experience emotional intelligence in the real world?

For sure. Especially the debriefs and learning about my own evaluation of the wheel. I catch myself noticing my patterns and habits, one of which is assertiveness (I could be better!). But I also see emotional intelligence skills in others, depending on the situation.

How do you use emotional intelligence in team sports?

I had a leadership role on my softball team at Concordia College and EI was so helpful in being successful. It helped me figure out how to approach different situations, how to better understand my teammates, and what I could do for them (which allowed our team to grow).

What was your university experience like?

I enjoyed it quite a bit. In my experience, Division 3 schools (the category Concordia falls under) focus on the individual as a person and balance schooling with sports. Plus, they’re smaller! At Concordia, I built good connections with professors, peers, and my coaching staff. It was more personal. I also found that the programs are built to create more well-rounded individuals. You can play multiple sports (we have a bunch of dual-athletes!) and you can also take multiple, different courses in different fields. For example, I took a 300-level art course and  I’m not an artist! But it allowed me to build more connections with people of different backgrounds, and explore something I hadn’t before.

My first year living at the university was during the first year of COVID, which presented challenges. But I found my people! They’re like a second set of family and friends. It only took a 16-hour drive to find them (laughs).

I met my roommate playing softball, and we lived with each other all four years of our schooling. She’s the sister I never had; I know that if we were to fight (we never do) we’d still be friends. She eventually decided not to pursue softball, but we stayed roommates and she’s become my best friend.

As a Canadian, why did you decide to go to university in the States?

Softball and the program brought me there, but I can’t say which had more weight! I really wanted to go out and grow on my own. I always feel that when I tell people about going to school in Minnesota, they think I was trying to run away from my family, but it was really about wanting to grow as a person. Being away from home helped me grow more than had I stayed!

I’m very fortunate to have a great support system through my family. I needed to grow as my own person away from them and I was able to do that with their support. I also learned that I can support myself and when to rely on others for help.

You’ve also studied environmental ethics, what was that like?

It was really interesting! The course brought together environmental ethics and eco-feminism. My professor was super passionate about those topics, which made me feel super passionate, too! We went through various moral dilemmas that impact the environment, plus day-to-day situations and then we wrote a 20-page paper about a particular topic. I was interested in genetics because ultimately, that’s the field I’d like to work in. My research focus was genetic engineering and the environment.

What specifically would you like to do in the field of genetics?

I’d like to get into genetic counselling or become a geneticist. I have always been fascinated with the question of “why are we the way we are?” From highschool we learned the basics of genetic traits and how they are passed down through humans, which initially sparked my interest in genetics. From my introductory biology classes in college,we dove deeper into these concepts. I became fascinated by the molecular mechanisms that drive traits and diseases. In genetic counseling I would have the opportunity to work with individuals affected/ at risk for genetic conditions and help them navigate their health decisions. Ultimately, my goal is to merge my passion for human genetics, to help people, and healthcare. 

What exactly is genetic counselling?

Part of it involves providing patients and their families with information about specific predispositions or genetic conditions they have or are at risk for, and also helping them conduct testing and work through the results. There are a few branches in the field; I’m interested in cancer or pediatric counselling.

At one point, I wanted to be a doctor or an eye surgeon, but I don’t have a steady hand! I knew I could find other ways to help people outside of the surgical realm. As a genetic counsellor, I’d be able to have face-to-face interactions with patients and clients and help them find comfort in something that’s outside of their control (genetic diagnoses or conditions). Those are often difficult conversations and I think it would be amazing to provide a support system and help in that way.

Will you need more training? 

I have a psychology minor right now, which I think will be important as I pursue genetic counselling. Understanding human psychology and people’s emotions or aspects of their behaviour is so helpful. My next steps are to get my Genetic Counselling Master’s Degree. I am currently not currently sure if I would pursue this in the USA or in Canada. 

What’s next for you?

I’m a plan-loving person, so I have given this a lot of thought! I’ll be applying to a genetic counselling master’s program. It’s competitive and not many schools offer it, so it’ll depend on which school I get accepted to (or if I get accepted at all!). After that, I hope to become a genetic counsellor in either the private or public sector and from there, grow in the practice. 

Do you have a favourite emotional intelligence skill? Or one you need to work on?

I think I’m really strong in empathy but I know I need to work on assertiveness. One skill I’m appreciating more and more is reality testing.

What is reality testing?

It’s the ability to see a situation for what it is, without necessarily casting things as positive or negative, reacting, or letting our own desires cloud our vision. Reality testing goes along with decision-making. The questions I ask when I reality test are questions like, what’s really going on around me? How am I feeling about this? Can I experience this objectively without being overly negative or positive about it? Who can I ask to get a better understanding of this? Is there a way to test how I’m seeing this situation? 

I find reality testing hard to put into practice, which is why I’ve grown to appreciate when I get it right, or when I see others do it well. It’s one of my favourite skills to practice.

What do you like to do outside of work or softball?

I love hanging out with my friends, and reading! I’m into fantasy-type books, diving into new worlds is exciting. I used to draw a lot too, mostly doodles like little flowers or butterflies.

What kind of fantasy books are you into?

Usually, I’m into ones that portray a completely new world or a new side of an existing world (like Harry Potter or A Court of Thorns and Roses). I like them because they allow me to relax and take a break from the stressors of this world. I used to try to read detective books, but I found pretty quickly that I either figured out what was going on beforehand (so it wasn’t a surprise) or I’d get bored! 

Good luck in your new career in genetic counselling, Karissa! We know great things are ahead for you.