My Influences

The first person I would like to share about was my high school biology teacher, Mr. C. He was young, frighteningly enthusiastic about science (imagine a young Bill Nye the Science Guy), and passionate about his faith. Every year, during the very first class, he would shut the door and share his testimony with his class. Mr. C. had been raised in an abusive and broken home; he had turned to a life of drugs; alcohol, and crime at a young age; his childhood hobbies had involved torturing live animals and beating on kids around him; he had attempted suicide twice before the age of fifteen. I won't try to share Mr. C.'s subsequent story of change and redemption, simply because I could never do it justice- suffice to say that he had eventually ended up here, in a private Christian school, teaching science and gushing to anyone who would listen about how amazing his Savior was. Needless to say, Mr. C. was not your average biology teacher.
Mr. C.'s influence on me always came at the end of his testimony, when he would explain to his students why he had chosen to willingly share his backstory with us; he wanted everyone to understand that he had 'been there,' that his own childhood had been a nightmare and that he could understand and empathize with nearly anything that any one of us might be going through. Mr. C. made it clear that he had an 'open-door policy;' anyone, at any time, could ask to speak with him about anything. He swore to listen, to pray, to not judge, and to keep everything completely private. I never took him up on his open-door policy, but many students- and a few of my friends- did, and I realized throughout high school that more kids would go and talk to Mr. C. than to any of the school guidance counselors. This realization, and my admiration for what an unusual but appreciated teacher he was, sparked a desire in me to play that role for others; I, too, wanted to be someone that people could go to when they felt lost, angry, or hurt, and when they felt as though there was no one else to go to.

The second person I would like to share about is my younger sister, Cas. Cas recently struggled with depression for several years, and she has always idolized my elder sister- who, while a wonderful person whom I love dearly, is not the type of person who should be idolized or emulated in several respects. During Cas's depression in middle and high school, I began to reach out to her in every way I could think of- I spent time with her every chance I could get, bought her things, took her fun places, talked to her all the time, and even shared my bedroom with her several times. As our friendship grew stronger, I became a confidante for Cas- instead of going to our older sister for guidance and advice, I became the go-to person whom she looked to for guidance. Our relationship today is still strong, and I always offer her the opportunity to vent or use me as a sounding board or confidante when she needs to. I love that I have become a trusted friend, not just a sister, and that I am now able to offer guidance when she needs it.

My final influence was a woman named Dottie. All throughout college, I worked in the activities department of an assisted living home. Dottie was a resident there- she was about seventy years old when I first starting working. Being part of the daily life of an assisted living home can be a very somber, grim experience- many people do not want to be there, and many are lonely and/or angry about their circumstances. Dottie was lonely, bitter, angry, and very, very sad. When I first met her, she acted viciously; after a few minutes of her yelling and name-calling, she broke down in tears and began to tell me about how difficult she was finding it to adjust to this new home that her family had left her in. I sat and let her cry, and we ended up talking for a long time. After that first interaction, Dottie began to seek me out from time to time- she would come into my office and vent, and I would just sit there and let her. After a few of our impromptu meetings- which were very commonplace, for me and for several other staff members, since many of the residents usually simply wanted for someone to listen to them speak- I realized that I loved listening to Dottie tell me about her life and her struggles. I was seeing a side of her that she kept hidden, but that she needed to be seen by someone, and I enjoyed playing that role for her. I was majoring in Psychology at the time, and realized that I was acting as an impromptu and unofficial counselor for Dottie- this turned my interests more specifically towards counseling.

My Influential People (Sila)

The first person that has influenced my decision to seek a profession as license counselor has to be my father, Manoonsak. For me, he is a pastor, a dad, and a friend. His listening skill is widely known in the circle of my church community. As I was growing up, I have seen him ministering in the pulpit as well as counseling individuals, couples, and families. He has inspired me to help others to know more about themselves and God, and the way they should live their lives according to the scripture. I remember when I was a teenager; I would see many people come to my father and asking for help. I have seen him saved many marriages from divorce as well as brought back unity in many families.

The second person is my mother, Sirion. She is an encourager and a supporter of my decision to become a counselor. Although she is not as articulate as my father is, she has a very kind heart that always available to help others in any given opportunities. Her enthusiasm to help is inspiring me to become a helper. In the future as a counselor, I look forward to help as many people as I can just like what I have seen in my parent’s works. I believe that what I have seen in my parent’s life has enormously influenced my decision to become a counselor.

            The last but definitely not least is God, He is the one who has guided me through many situations and careers that have led me up to this point. I am standing where I am today because of Him. I am also confident that He will guide me through school and prepare a place for me to work in the future. Although it would be quite difficult for me to go back home and work as a marriage and family counselor, I am trusting in Him because, thus far, He has kept all of His promises, and I believe that he will do the same in the future.

Joseph Wall Influences

My first influences came from a conversation way back in the fifth grade. A girl who i do not actually remember her name, just talked about deep life stuff that had happened to her in her past  home life. This was the start of me being being told by my peers that I was easy to talk with and I had a talent for just listening and asking relevant questions about whatever the topic was. This is the foundation to me thinking about helping people as a future profession. I believe that God used this situation to start a passion that has turned into a life calling of helping people talk through the stories of what has made them the people that they are today, looking back I see the hand of God laying down the ground work for my life, and, I really find that a place of trust to the future purposes that are mold my counseling life as I grow in the profession.


Second, is a Bible professor and really a temporary mentor in my life. After a girl who I was planning a marriage with ended our relationship with a messy break up, this professor asked me a question that has driven me for most of my young adult life. He asked "what are we doing, joey" outside on a road that is now a parking lot, he challenged me to why I was throwing my life away, to why I had given up, when I had so much potential to impact the world. This was the first time and, sadly the last that anyone at the institution was supportive of my pursuit of counseling degree. Those words has impacted me more than any other in my short 24 almost 25 years of life. I feel that God used this professor to wake me up to my potential and really shake my world and allow me to see my purpose in life was to help people. I honestly do know if I would have finished college or stayed at the school if it wasn't for God using this man to walk into my path and just be present and remold my belief in myself.

Third, is a man that I never actually had the pleasure of meeting. A close friend who I have had the pleasure of having deep conversations about marriage and relationships in general is getting married next month. The pastor that is doing their pre-martial counseling was told about my thoughts on marriage and those deep conversations I had with my friend, and said that I was a wise young man. This is the newest and truly one of the most valuable praise that I have gotten from a person that does pre-marriage counseling on a regular basis. As I am about 1.5 years away from my degree, I have started to get graduate school overload, this feeling was greater before November when I heard these words from my friend on what his pastor thought of my ideas. I feel that God has used this man to recharge me in a way to not lose sight of the prize of a masters degree. God has allowed me to see that this is bigger than me and is truly my purpose and that it allows me to see the impact that i will have on marriages and the family as I just continue to follow where the Lord leads me.

The Influence of Others

As I think of my thinking, I am thankful (yet disheartened at times) by how powerful our minds are. When people encourage productivity with a simple phrase “ just put your mind to it” I do not know how often we contemplate the weight of those exact words. Our minds are powerful, sharp, critical, motivating, analytical, and pivotal to our very core. Today, I know that I am grateful for the interpersonal relationships and external influences on my thinking. I would like to take a moment to write about the very individuals who have encouraged me to pursue this CMHC degree:

First and foremost is Tom W., my old youth pastor who is currently pursuing licensure for counseling. About eight years ago I was in a season of struggling with depression, suicidal ideation, and chronic physical pain. Circumstantially I did not think that things could get worse but they did and I lost a lot of relationships with family, close friends, and then my health depleted. My parents required me to attend counseling with Tom since I was “scaring” them with my unstable mental state. Tom began to point out the lack of control in life, which I could not seem to manage or maintain. After a long list of personal examples I felt defeated but Tom questioned who was in control of my life. Later that night I sat and contemplated who was actually in control – to which I heard a still voice “I AM.” The Lord graciously rescued me and began to restore my life that night. Through further counseling sessions with Tom I began to realize that I need to accept what I can change and relinquish my grip from the rest of it. I learned how to sit in the “messiness” as a client and allow my life to be shaped by a counselor.

On another occasion I was talking with a friend, Graham R., about my passion for international missionary work and how I just wanted to quit school in order to help others overseas. He questioned my intentions of becoming a counselor and going to undergrad for psychology. Although I could explain my passion for the field of counseling and exactly why I wanted to help others find holistic health, I simply did not want to commit to being in school. I will never forget the words he said to me, “Jess if you want to be a counselor, the people you counsel deserve the best.” That day Graham reestablished my commitment to higher education for the sole purpose of becoming the best counselor I could be and to keep future clients in mind. 

About four years ago I was going through a very broken season of life and the Lord provided a friendship with Christie K. that would slowly refresh and restore my perspective of Christianity. From the first time we got together, we shared our testimonies and confessed our desperate desire for vulnerability within the Church. We choose to open up about sin, struggles, failings, and hardships that we are currently wrestling with. The Lord has been faithful in this friendship to reveal a beautiful brokenness that depends on His redemption. It has shifted my perspective on what counseling has the potential to offer – the presence of another individual’s soul to wade through darkness and drag in Light. I understand that there are many burdens, trials, and temptations in my own life that I cannot go through alone. I need someone who is willing to help which is exactly  where the counseling process or the Church should come in. 

Lastly, I have experienced the grief of losing individuals who did not receive or persevere through counseling. I have sat with one of my mentors, Jennifer B., through the loss of her husband to suicide. As she pursued counseling after the death of her husband, she was repulsed and disturbed by the “help” she received. No one was willing to just sit with her, without judgment, as she went through the roughest season of her life. She turned to me with numerous questions about the purposes of counseling and faith, but I rarely opened my mouth. In our time together all that goes through my mind is “how can I offer anything to you?” The truth is, I only have my presence to offer her and she is accepting that. She does not want the easy answers or lighthearted encouragement and knows I refuse to offer that. Instead she wants to be transparent and I want to be with her through that, in whatever way that may look like.

Our Sovereign Healer has used each of these instances to shape my heart. Every single one of these influences has directed me to the perfect example: the Trinity’s presence in our desperate times of need. As I pursue a career in counseling, I simply want to offer my presence, an environment that creates for vulnerability, and an empathetic heart that seeks understanding.

Why Luke Hummel is here...

What follows is a testimony of three specific people who have influenced my decision to pursue a career in counseling:

Dr. Fuhr is a professor for the Biblical Studies department at Liberty University. During my undergraduate studies I had the privilege of taking two courses (Hermeneutics and Minor Prophets) taught by him. I stopped by his office one day after class in order to pick up an assignment; this visit became a discussion about my future plans. [One insight about Luke Hummel: I am not good about making future plans.] I told him that I was considering pursuing a degree in counseling--at the time I had been accepted into the Human Services program. He strongly encouraged me to consider the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program because it would allow me to pursue a license. He then put me in contact with a man who was knowledgeable about the CMHC program, which finally convinced me that a licensure track was the better option.

I used the word “finally” because I had been resisting the idea of doing the CMHC program; frankly, I wanted the easier, cheaper route. Furthermore, and maybe of greater importance, my father had suggested that I choose a licensure track, but at the time I was very resistant to my father’s advice. My choosing the CMHC program at the advice of Dr. Fuhr and not my own father was an eye-opening and humbling moment for me, specifically giving me insight into my poor attitude towards my father.

Sam Schwenk is the pastor of my church in West Virginia. Sam is important to me because he was one of the first men to be intentional with me concerning my spiritual development. He acted as the motivator for my continuance in the program, whereas Dr. Fuhr was the catalyst for getting me into it. There was one day when Sam and I met at Chick-fil-a, and he asked me about my choice to pursue a career in counseling. I told him about some reservations that I had, attempting to be honest about my struggles with pursuing counseling. He opened my eyes, however, to the need--specifically in north central West Virginia--for more counselors who know both God and His Word. Having this need magnified for me led me to consider counseling in a rural setting, which is the main focus of my research proposal. I had not intended to stay in West Virginia, but God used that conversation to open that door for me, causing me to seriously consider my place in rural counseling.

Sheri Hummel, my mother, is the final person I will speak about. She truly wants me to succeed in life and has always seen way more potential in me than I have seen in myself. It is through the trials and suffering that she has faced in her life that my own life and character have been shaped. Concerning my career choice, when I mentioned to her that I was considering counseling, she was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about it. She also liked my idea to study rural counseling in my research class. (I think she would be very pleased if I practiced counseling closer to home.)

These three people, Dr. Fuhr, Sam Schwenk, and my mother, were used by God in very different ways to encourage me to press on in my pursuit. Hopefully God will continue to provide more influencers in my life--He knows I need them.

MY INFLUENCES

I have had numerous influences in life that have influenced my career path in mental health. One thing I would like to mention is that I have experienced and lived through situations that have geared me toward the mental health field.  These experiences have prepared me for the field more so than specific "individuals" did throughout my life. 

The first person I would like to acknowledge is my grandmother.  Unfortunately, she recently passed away in 2014, at the beginning of my time here at Liberty. Sadly,her death has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with and has shed some light on what population I would like to work with in the future.  My grandmother was my second mother.  She saved me literally from going into foster care after my mother died from cancer.  I ended up living with her and she put me back in school where I belonged.  Before my mother died I was homeschooled because she was so sick and I needed to be at home with my family.  My grandmother believed in me and she saw my full potential.  She was so proud of me and came to every sports event and she acknowledged every accomplishment I ever achieved.  After my mother died I was broken and hurting and my grandmother put me in counseling.  At first, I hated every minute of it.  But down the road counseling helped me see the light of day in cloudy storm. After high school she made me apply to college and I told her that I wanted to help people.  I then majored in psychology and graduated and applied for grad school.  She believed in me so much that she sacrificed everything for me to go to Liberty to pursue my degree. I know she would be proud of me for getting this far.  She has influenced me to work with the elderly population and adolescents.  She always told me, " everyone always needs someone neutral to talk to". 

The second person I want to mention is my best friend Kim.  I have known her for more than 10 years and we talk to each other every day.  She has been there alongside of me through all my major life events.  She has seen me at my lowest moment and has done everything in her power to lift me up. God works through her to show me the way. I am beyond blessed to have her in my life. Kim has been my cheerleader since day one and she has pushed me to continue to get my degree even when I swore up and down that I wanted to quit.  She knows how big a heart I have and has always told me that I am extremely empathetic.  She also says that I am one of the most intelligent people she has ever met.  She really tries to keep me on track with school and my career so that I don't loose sight of my goals.  When my grandma passed away she was right by my side crying and holding my hand.  She loves me and she believes in me and what I can do. She told me just last week that she would do what ever it takes for me to not give up and keep on trying.  I can't thank God enough for putting her in my life.  I know that I could call her at any time of night and she would do whatever it takes to encourage me and support me.  She has imprinted herself on me for life. I began to notice that she imprinted on me when she told me that my life experiences allow me to bring more than a book knowledge to the counseling session.  I am able to relate to others in special ways and I can use my experiences to guide me through the counseling process.  I know that where ever I end up in life she will always be there cheering me on.

The final person I want to mention is my dad.  My father is so dysfunctional it is not even funny.  I love him to death but he is the main reason I want to be a therapist.  I am almost positive that my dad has severe anxiety and other problems.  Sadly, my father does not believe in counseling.  He has told me that it is a waste of time.  I have heard him say these things my entire life and with all his issues,he has neglected to seek mental assistance.  I watched my father take a downward spiral into his own imagination and it has caused him to have some pretty unpleasant issues throughout his life.  I was able to witness what happens to someone who does NOT seek counseling or psychiatric services.  I always hoped he would get help and I know that I have the faith that God will guide him in the right direction. My fathers weakness has showed me that counseling can help and if one does not seek help, your emotions can destroy you entirely.  I hope that I can one day help someone who has gotten to a bad place.  I want to help people see the light and realize their importance and how the Lord works through them everyday. This is why I want to be a counselor.

My Influencers

For a long time now people have told me that I am a good listener and supporter. I've been a peacemaker and leader of conflict resolution in my family and friend groups since adolescence. Friends and strangers alike will suddenly disclose their hearts to me - it's the weirdest thing. Moments like that, a desire to express care for people in their hard places and people confirming some of my natural giftings have pointed me to consider counseling as being a viable career option. To get specific, some people that have influenced my decision the most include my parents, my friends and sophomore year Resident Assistants, Leslie and Kayla, and some of my past campers.

To begin with, I think everyone's family has some dysfunction because all family members and sinners, but my parents have compared their families (in jest) with some friends who then said "Nope, you're family is worse. Y'all take the cake for dysfunction." We are no strangers to the messiness of life, so my parents have seen counselors when needed over the years so that they could promote healing in themselves and our family. Because of that, I have both seen and experienced how good counseling can help hurting people to grow and heal.

My second year of college I was on a leadership team on the dorm with some girls that I was good friends with. Leslie and Kayla were my RA's, and they were intentional to recognize and encourage my gifts. When I was pulled up from Prayer Leader to Spiritual Life Director and they practically forced me to try out to be a Resident Assistant, they would talk with me about situations and students and then laugh at how different my perspective would always be from theirs. They knew that my natural sense of empathy and spiritual gifting towards mercy would lead me to consider a person's heart beyond their actions and would sometimes even laugh saying "Oh you're such a mercy person" because I was the last one to get frustrated. All of the time they would tell me how good I would be at counseling and how natural my disposition was for it. 

Last, I have been a camp counselor a few times and have had kids want to meet with me and talk through things multiple times. I've sat with students as they questioned the Lord but also as they have confessed eating disorders, shame-filled secrets and several types of abuse. Sitting with them as they have opened the doors to their pain and taken steps towards healing has been such a privilege and though each time is heartbreaking I feel that it is something that the Lord has crafted me for and led me to do. 

All of these moments (and others) combined have seemed like the Lord building up my character and challenging my heart. I feel like He has placed passions and desires and skills within my and that using them as a counselor is a good way to honor Him in the ways in which He created me. My life and circumstances good and bad have built me into who I am today and helped me to know Him more. This truly feels like my calling and I am glad to serve God in it. All that I have and am are gifts of God, so I choose to worship Him with those gifts.