Meet Karina Collins! Karina is a senior at Gainesville High School. Her parents are Namon and Priscilla Collins and she plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall.

Please tell us a little bit about your family.
“I’m an only child and the daughter of Priscilla and Namon Collins. I would consider my family and I to be pretty close, and very supportive of each other. We’re super family-oriented, so we always make sure to check on one another, even outside of the immediate family.”

What are your plans after graduation?
“I plan on attending The University of Alabama and majoring in Public Health.”

What are two of your favorite restaurants in our community?
“Zen Ramen and Sushi Burrito and Collegiate Grill.”

If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
“Australia, there one of the few countries who have mitigated the spread of Covid-19 and are back to complete normalcy, so it would be nice to live freely again.”

What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
“My favorite movie is ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and my favorite TV show is ‘The Originals.'”

If you were asked to give advice to your senior class and the younger students at your school, what would you say?
“I would tell them to focus on your grades and befriend your teachers/counselors for future recommendation letters, but also appreciate every moment in high school, because it goes by quickly.”

If you were able to be cast as yourself into a television show or series, what show would you want to be in?
“The Parkers.”

If you could choose anyone to have lunch with, who would you choose? Why? And where, locally, would you meet for this lunch?
“Althea Gibson. She was one the first African American women to play professional tennis and golf, and won multiple Grand Slams for tennis and played in over 171 golf tournaments, all during the times of the Jim Crow era. I would meet them for lunch at Sweet Magnolia’s Cafe on the square.”

What is your favorite thing about our community?
“I love how connected we are through the history of Gainesville, and how prideful we are about our community. It’s a great feeling when you’re walking throughout this city, with a Gainesville shirt on and a resident of the community will stop and acknowledge you, and maybe tell a story of their time in high school.”

Where do you see yourself in fuve to 10 years?
“I hope to be obtaining a Masters of Public Health to further my dream of working for the CDC or NIH one day.”

What is something on your bucket list?
“I want to travel to every continent.”

What is your go to band / singer when you cant decide what to listen to?
“Jaden Smith.”

Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
“September. Christmas. The 1st of every month because it represents new beginnings.”

What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
“Music Festivals.”

What is something you want to do as soon as this pandemic is finished?
“Go to a concert.”

Who inspires you to be better?
“My grandmother.”