Karissa, 16, Edward M. Kennedy School, Boston, Originally from Puerto Rico

Karissa is 16 and a junior at the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers in Boston. She comes from a huge Puerto Rican family that is extremely diverse. She is a grateful, kind, and very respectable person who can easily get along with anybody. At first Karissa is shy, but once you get to know here you will feel comfortable and able to laugh A LOT. Karissa loves sports. She loves watching baseball and basketball (mainly baseball). “I feel in love watching sports and playing them because I was raised with only boys, so being the only girl (not literally), I learned everything from my brothers, cousins, and uncles that surrounded me with their presence”. Karissa is such a baseball and basketball fan that her favorite team is the New York Yankees (eventhough she was born and raised in Boston, MA) and the Boston Celtics. Her favorite players are Derek Jeter ;) and Ray Allen.

Karissa dreams of being an OB/GYN and having the inspiration to help and fund foundations that surround Breast Cancer. Recently Karissa lost her grandmother to Breast Cancer, and she is very ardent about this cause. She was raised with two older brothers who she adores, and a mother she would die for. Karissa is a NERD!!! It is her own way of saying that she truly loves school. “If one day, I could be famous I would spend all of my time opening up clinics, homes and schools in third world countries. Because I would love to give and my main focus is to be the one who helps everybody (because YOU know how I love helping people) in providing them with shelter and care.”

Karissa is very proud that she of Hispanic descent (BORICUA: DD) that every summer since she was 12 she has been able to travel to her family’s mainland of Puerto Rico. She loves going to Puerto Rico to experience more than she has ever learned about her country. She is a native of Arroyo and Arecibo Puerto Rico. One day when she gets older she would love to backpack the WHOLE entire world. She is very studious about learning more about the different cultures around the world. She loves experiencing new things, which is one of her hobbies that truly stands out.

Karissa’s favorite quote: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein