Student Spotlight: Karuna Artjai
Originally from Thailand, Karuna Artjai moved to the United States in 2004 after earning her law degree in her home country. Currently a student in Cape Fear Community College’s Public Safety Administration program, she is juggling multiple responsibilities while being a parent. In addition to her studies at CFCC, Karuna is pursuing Basic Law Enforcement Training at Brunswick Community College and working as a paramedic with Brunswick County EMS.
Having lost her parents and her brother at a young age, Karuna was raised by her grandparents. This background has influenced her perspective on life and service.
“In my field of work, you see people at their most vulnerable. It keeps you grounded,” she explained. “Every day, I’m grateful that I can walk, breathe, eat on my own. So many people don’t have that privilege. In Thailand, good health is an honor and a responsibility. I see it as my duty to serve those around me.”
Recently, she was honored to respond to a call for a 102-year-old war veteran. “I felt a deep connection and respect for his life and sacrifices,” she shared.
Initially unsure of what she wanted to study when enrolling at CFCC, Karuna clearly remembers a day that gave her the clarity she needed.
“One day, I was sitting on my porch listening to music, and an ambulance drove by while ‘How to Save a Life’ was playing on the radio. It felt like a sign,” she shared. “That evening, I heard the song again and another time the next day. I knew I couldn’t ignore it. I contacted a friend who had gone through CFCC’s EMS program, and she encouraged me to enroll.”
Following her intuition, Karuna enrolled at CFCC and graduated in 2018 with her Associate in Applied Science in Emergency Medical Science. She then went on to work at Brunswick County EMS and has been there since.
While Karuna found fulfillment as a paramedic, she felt called to broaden her impact on public safety. “I wanted to see beyond the patient’s immediate needs and understand broader issues,” she explained. “CFCC’s Public Safety Administration program was exactly what I needed to expand my perspective.”
The online curriculum covers diverse areas such as crisis leadership, interagency operations, and financial management in public safety. “It’s not just about one skill set. This program is giving me the full picture.”
CFCC faculty members Justin Ovaska and Andrew Holter taught particularly impactful courses. “Both of them are incredibly knowledgeable, and they bring real-world examples into the class that make everything relevant,” she shared.
With her December graduation approaching, Karuna is proud of what she has accomplished. “I told myself, ‘You will complete this in two years,’ and I did,” she said. “Being a mom, having a job, and managing two programs was tough, but I stayed focused.”
Following graduation from both programs, Karuna hopes to work in law enforcement, ideally in a role with the sheriff’s department, where she can work directly with juveniles. Her long-term goal is to serve administratively at a juvenile detention center and use her firsthand experience to provide guidance and resources to young people.
“As a mom, I always try to be kind and positive,” she shared. “I want young people to know they can conquer whatever they’re going through. They have options and resources available to help them.”
Karuna offers words of wisdom for others considering pursuing a similar path.
“Have an open mind and remember that you’re stepping into something bigger than yourself. Be prepared to put in the work, to read and learn, and to embrace that there are things you won’t be able to control.”
