Katherine Van Buskirk

Administrative Assistant, North Andover Counseling Professionals

"Working at PCA had a massive impact on how I view the sports industry and where I saw myself “fitting in”. Before joining their team, I merely had a general idea of the extent to which mental health plays a role in athletics. Throughout my time with PCA, I found myself learning something new every day—both about myself & the world of sports."

"Mental health has always played a large role in my life and being able to work with an organization that is, in addition to their other work, actively working to decrease the stigma surrounding it was an experience I will never forget. PCA & the Marketing team were crucial in the growth of my confidence and finding my voice. I left my internship with a stronger sense of self, a brain full of ideas, and the knowledge that advocacy for athletes struggling with their mental health was going to be a huge part of my future."

3 Things Katie liked most about PCA:

1. The staff members I got to work with were so incredibly supportive and inspiring. They constantly encouraged me to push myself and run with my ideas, which in turn helped me find my voice.

2. Overseeing the social media platforms for PCA was a daunting task at first but being trusted with that much individual responsibility was something I didn’t take lightly, and I learned a lot about my capabilities.

3. The resources that I curated weekly were just as beneficial to me as they were to the followers. Not only was I able to apply PCA principles to my everyday life, but I was also able to gain more empathy & respect for the various roles in the industry.

Career Goal:

Currently, I’m the Administrative Assistant at North Andover Counseling Professionals, which has been a very valuable experience. I’ve been able to witness, first-hand, the mental health crisis that this country is currently facing which has only further inspired me to continue my journey as an advocate for athlete mental health! Ideally in the future, I’ll be able to combine my creative talents with my passion for advocacy, but in the meantime, I plan to continue educating myself on mental health, how it intersects with athletics, and developing ideas for individual side projects.