My Journey to Becoming a Therapist, Pt. 1
Ouachita Baptist University, where I did my undergraduate degree.
One unique thing about the counseling field is that it’s often a second or even third career for many people. Former teachers, nurses, and ministers frequently find their way to this work. But for me? I kinda always knew this was where I was headed.
Growing up, I was the friend people confided in—the one who listened to their deepest thoughts, fears, and experiences. I loved being that safe place for others. It made me feel connected and, honestly, like I had a sense of purpose. From elementary school to high school, I formed friendships across all kinds of backgrounds. The part of town I grew up in was fairly diverse, and while I was raised in a Christian home, my friend circle included people from different family structures, religions (or none at all), races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I became fascinated with what shaped a person—their worldview, their struggles, the way they moved through life.
At the same time, my faith was growing deeper. I wanted to understand how a relationship with God influenced every part of life, from our decisions to our emotional well-being. So when it came time to choose a major, psychology at a Christian university—with a minor in ministry—felt like the perfect fit.
But college had other plans.
I started out as a psychology major, but that didn’t last long. My very first psychology class was overwhelming, and I was completely intimidated by the professor (who, ironically, ended up being one of my favorites later on). Instead of pushing through, I dropped the class and shifted my focus to my minor, Christian Studies.
That change in direction opened up a whole new world for me. I fell in love with studying Scripture, seeing how every book of the Bible wove together to tell the story of God. I also found myself unlearning and relearning things about my faith that I had simply assumed growing up. It was a season of awe and transformation as I learned more about God and His heart for humanity.
Arkansas really is a beautiful state. I loved my four years here.
Over the next couple of years, my academic path took a few turns—I even entertained pre-dentistry at one point! Eventually, though, I landed on Biblical Studies as my major, with a minor in Communications. My time in the Christian Studies department was rich and eye-opening. I explored world religions, learned about missionary work (which was totally unfamiliar to me before), and deepened my understanding of God’s truth in Scripture. One of the highlights was traveling to Israel and Jordan the summer before my senior year. Walking through the lands of the Bible was surreal—an experience I’ll never take for granted. (My only regret? Being too scared to ride a camel!) As I was looking back on my photos from Israel, I was quickly reminded that this trip was pre-iPhone 😆… photo quality, not so great, but the memories are what matter, right?
At that point, I thought I’d either go into teaching or become a Christian writer. I loved my studies (except for Comm. Law—hard pass on that one), and I was captivated by God’s Word. I applied to a few seminaries but was really hoping to find a teaching job in Arkansas, where I had spent the past four years in college building sweet friendships. I was set on staying in that community.
But life had other plans…
Stay tuned next week for Part II of my journey to becoming a therapist!
