Welcome to Flash Focus! In this series, we introduce you to fascinating student Flashes from all walks of life.
Meet Abigale Traska, an alumna and current Kent State University graduate student from Brunswick, Ohio, whose willingness to explore her options has yielded a promising future.
“When I started at Kent State in August 2021, I was eager to use my college experience to explore new opportunities and grow more confident in my career path,” Traska told Kent State Today.
While taking a Career Navigation: Constructing the Possibilities course and considering a variety of majors, she landed on psychology.
“I learned to embrace uncertainty and view failure as a sign that I was putting myself out there,” Traska said.
Traska joined a research lab and participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).
“During my undergraduate career, I served as a research assistant in Dr. Ben-Porath’s lab for about two years, where I also completed the SURE Program. Through this experience, I was able to take an active role in psychological research and present my own project focused on the MMPI-3,” she said, referring to a contemporary assessment for mental health, medical, forensic and public safety settings.”
These experiences helped her secure an internship, where she made meaningful connections that shaped both her personal and professional growth.
“During my internship at MetroHealth, I gained invaluable hands-on experience that helped me build confidence in my counseling abilities and reaffirmed my passion for the field,” Traska said.
Her undergraduate successes did not stop there.
“My undergraduate journey was full of highs and lows, but each experience taught me something valuable about myself,” she said. “I learned to trust my instincts, take risks and find confidence in my own path.”
She completed Kent State’s undergraduate Addictions Counseling Certificate Experiential Paraprofessional Training (ACCEPT) Program and became a certified chemical dependency counselor assistant.
Traska graduated from Kent State with honors in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a concentration in counseling careers and a minor in human development and family studies before continuing on to graduate school.
Traska has been part of the Recreation and Wellness Services department for over three years, a role she continues as a graduate student.
“I began as an operations assistant at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and eventually advanced to operations supervisor. After graduating with my bachelor’s, I returned to the department as a graduate assistant at the Kent State Ice Arena and an advisor for the Student Recreation Council,” she said.
Traska’s passion and love for the people around her kept her motivated and engaged beyond academics.
“A strong support system has been a constant presence in every chapter of my journey,” she said. “I feel that one of my life’s purposes is to pay it forward, sharing the same kindness, grace and patience that others have shown me to encourage and uplift those around me.”
One of the most influential people that have helped on her journey is Jeff Kingery, student personnel coordinator at the Recreation and Wellness Center, Traska said.
“Jeff embodies unconditional positive regard for everyone he meets,” she said. “Jeff’s example has taught me the value of leading with empathy, authenticity and purpose – qualities I strive to emulate in my own professional and personal life.”
Through all these experiences, one thing is clear for Traska: she wants to be a counselor.
“Returning to act as a client and provide feedback to current students has been an incredibly meaningful experience, and it reminds me of how far I’ve come and allows me to support others as they begin their own journeys in counseling,” Traska said.
Are you a student interested in being featured in Flash Focus, or know a student who would make a great candidate? Send suggestions with name and contact information to kentstatetoday@kent.edu.