Sam Klein, Editor

PHILADELPHIA – There’s an old adage that claims it doesn’t always matter what happens to you, but rather how you react to what happens. For leaders like Kristen Harootunian, her reaction has left an everlasting and inspirational impact on others. 

Harootunian suffered from substance use disorder, spending years battling addiction after her mother’s death by suicide. A decade later, however, Harootunian is celebrating her dedicated journey towards recovery alongside 10 years of sobriety.

“A lesson I would want students to know is that there is so much strength in mental resiliency,” Harootunian said.  

It is through this victory that Harootunian’s own resilience has become a beacon of light for others and a nod to overcoming adversity for those who struggle in silence. 

Harootunian began her career as a young adult speaker through an organization called Minding Your Mind. As a speaker, she was responsible for vulnerably sharing her story in front of various crowds: students, parents, community members and even prisoners. 

The topic of her discussions, although tailored towards specific audiences, always centered around reducing the daunting stigma of mental health in an informative, emotional and non-triggering way. 

Harootunian has traveled across the country to speak to students from the third grade all the way to the university level. Today, however, she finds herself informing college athletes as an education alliance specialist on what it means to balance both physical and mental health. 

“People are going to look to you and they’re going to look for you,” Harootunian said. “It’s important to take care of yourself.” 

Beginning at La Salle University in fall of 2024, Harootunian provides programming through Caron Treatment Center to La Salle’s sports teams on wellness and substance abuse through the lens of personal experience. Since her short time here, Harootunian has transformed herself into a pivotal part of Lasallian culture. 

While her impact has extended to a variety of mainly female sports teams, La Salle women’s lacrosse has found themselves largely influenced by Harootunian’s leadership. 

“She’s learned from her mistakes,” sophomore Kate Liccardi said. “The fact that she chose a career to help others…speaks volumes in general of leadership.” 

Harootunian meets with the lacrosse team regularly to present on a variety of applicable and circumstantial topics such as communication, leadership and unity. The goal: building team chemistry and ensuring everyone feels like they have a voice. 

“I don’t want to allow anybody to feel like they are alone,” Harootunian said. “Or at least be able to have, like, some sort of touch point because…I didn’t have that in school.” 

Meetings last an hour and consist of constant, honest and open conversation among the team, all while monitored and led by Harootunian. 

“She’s a phenomenal listener,” senior Marissa Oakley said. “I feel comfortable talking to her no matter what.”

The connection between Harootunian and the lacrosse team was instant, leaving both sides of the presentation yearning to meet again. 

Liccardi raves about the positive environment Harootunian creates within each session, claiming Harootunian’s calming presence and approachable demeanor make her feel warm inside. 

“I always leave feeling so much better,” Liccardi said. “I just have a weight lifted off of myself.” 

Despite the ray of sunshine Harootunian provides in even the grayest of situations, she humbly credits the lacrosse team for the energy they bring to each session that allows them to be so productive. 

“It’s all about connection and… you guys show up authentically,” Harootunian said. “So… I can show up authentically.”

Harootunian is responsible not only for teaching the lacrosse team what it means to communicate transparently, but what it means to be a leader as well. 

“Being considered a leader means… it’s not just what you do when you’re with people,” Harootunian said. “It’s what you do when you’re by yourself.” 

These lessons on leadership seep into the young minds of tomorrow- the minds of future nurses, teachers and business professionals that make up the lacrosse team.

“She’s made me think about what I want to be like as a leader going into the work world next year,” Oakley said. “Now I know how I want to communicate with others and how I want others to see me.” 

Harootunian has become the model of what it means to be a leader to the 30 girls she continues to inspire every month, not only in how she carries herself, but the way she cares for the team.

“She is such an advocate,” Oakley said. “She’s there to stick up for us and be that open door policy that… everybody hopes and looks for in a leader.”

Liccardi and Oakley describe Harootunian as empathetic, passionate, emotionally intelligent and caring, among many other positive words. 

“She’s a woman of her word,” Oakley said. “She’s going to try and make a difference.” 

And a difference she has made- in team comfortability, individual confidence and the reassurance that with the right amount of care and adversity, anything is possible.