Does Counseling Help?
In 1993, I was a college freshman with one friend named Rene Rodriguez who introduced me to a man named Von Sheppard. During that time, Von was employed in Multicultural Student Services (campus office) and was an assistant football coach at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Von had a huge influence on my life during my first two years of college. During that freshman year, I was depressed, anxious, lonely, filled with despair, and lacked confidence to succeed. After Rene introduced me to Von, we began to meet on a weekly basis. Von took considerable time to instill within me confidence, strengths, and self-efficacy. He encouraged me to memorize wise quotes such as “Success is choosing truth at the Crossroads.”
One of my most significant endeavors up until that point in my life was the sport of basketball. Most of my energy in childhood and adolescence was exerted toward basketball. My dream was to play college basketball. My uncle had played ball at the University. And, my father was a philosophy professor at the University. And, since 1989, I dreamt of playing college ball there. I spent my first two years in college failing to accomplish this goal. When I was cut after that first year, I set out a goal that I wasn’t going to experience that failure to make the team in my second year.
With Rene’s help, I fixed my shot and became stronger. As I worked to improve my game, Von taught me an unforgettable quote, “If you want something bad enough, you have to go out and fight for it, work day and night for it, give up your time, your peace and your sleep for it, if all that you dream and scheme is about it; And life seems useless, worthless without it. If you’ll gladly sweat for it, fret for it and plan for it, And lose all terror of the opposition for it. If you simply go after this thing that you want with all your capacity, strength and sagacity, Faith, Hope, Confidence and Stern pertinacity. If neither cold, poverty, famine or gaunt, sickness nor pain, a body or brain, can keep you away from that thing that you want. If dogged and grim, you besiege and beset it; with the help of God, you will get it.”
Von was there for me when I failed to make the team my second year. I learned the value of failure (both the humility and the lesson) and putting forth my best effort regardless of the outcome. Ironically, I learned that failures have become my greatest successes.
Von taught me that self-made rules in our minds hold us back; and that anything was possible. At one point, I was considering the idea of playing football at the University. For the record, I was a lean athlete who had no experience playing football in high school, much less any business playing at a higher level. Despite the odds, Von took time to teach me how to run routes on the football field and gave me a recipe for training success if I was going to make it happen in making the division III team. While I didn’t attempt to play (perhaps, a wise decision), I learned an invaluable and unforgettable lesson - Von taught me to set goals believing that anything was possible. ANYTHING!
In 1995, Von was leaving St. Thomas to go elsewhere. I asked him over a breakfast on the south campus of St. Thomas, “Von, you have all of these relationships and networks throughout the university, how can you leave?” I’ll never forget his response. He told me a story about the importance of leaving your comfort zone. He said, “Very few are willing to leave their comfort zone.”
That breakfast marked an ending and a beginning to my life. For two years, Von was there for me whenever I needed him. He was particularly helpful during that first year of college when we met weekly. He taught me how to talk to girls, to walk with confidence, to view joy in the journey and not the destination, to live with balance, and to put forth strong effort in my studies. I was a very thin 125 lb. college freshman lost in the crowd; but I experienced great love and support from Von Sheppard. Has Von’s counsel lasted? This tribute is a testimony of the long-lasting impact of good counseling. I recall many of the principles, lessons, confidence, and strengths instilled within me by Von Sheppard. And Von probably had an influence on my future profession as a psychologist.
So after many years, this is my personal tribute to Von Sheppard. You were a life-changing influence in my life!
In 1993, I was a college freshman with one friend named Rene Rodriguez who introduced me to a man named Von Sheppard. During that time, Von was employed in Multicultural Student Services (campus office) and was an assistant football coach at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Von had a huge influence on my life during my first two years of college. During that freshman year, I was depressed, anxious, lonely, filled with despair, and lacked confidence to succeed. After Rene introduced me to Von, we began to meet on a weekly basis. Von took considerable time to instill within me confidence, strengths, and self-efficacy. He encouraged me to memorize wise quotes such as “Success is choosing truth at the Crossroads.”
One of my most significant endeavors up until that point in my life was the sport of basketball. Most of my energy in childhood and adolescence was exerted toward basketball. My dream was to play college basketball. My uncle had played ball at the University. And, my father was a philosophy professor at the University. And, since 1989, I dreamt of playing college ball there. I spent my first two years in college failing to accomplish this goal. When I was cut after that first year, I set out a goal that I wasn’t going to experience that failure to make the team in my second year.
With Rene’s help, I fixed my shot and became stronger. As I worked to improve my game, Von taught me an unforgettable quote, “If you want something bad enough, you have to go out and fight for it, work day and night for it, give up your time, your peace and your sleep for it, if all that you dream and scheme is about it; And life seems useless, worthless without it. If you’ll gladly sweat for it, fret for it and plan for it, And lose all terror of the opposition for it. If you simply go after this thing that you want with all your capacity, strength and sagacity, Faith, Hope, Confidence and Stern pertinacity. If neither cold, poverty, famine or gaunt, sickness nor pain, a body or brain, can keep you away from that thing that you want. If dogged and grim, you besiege and beset it; with the help of God, you will get it.”
Von was there for me when I failed to make the team my second year. I learned the value of failure (both the humility and the lesson) and putting forth my best effort regardless of the outcome. Ironically, I learned that failures have become my greatest successes.
Von taught me that self-made rules in our minds hold us back; and that anything was possible. At one point, I was considering the idea of playing football at the University. For the record, I was a lean athlete who had no experience playing football in high school, much less any business playing at a higher level. Despite the odds, Von took time to teach me how to run routes on the football field and gave me a recipe for training success if I was going to make it happen in making the division III team. While I didn’t attempt to play (perhaps, a wise decision), I learned an invaluable and unforgettable lesson - Von taught me to set goals believing that anything was possible. ANYTHING!
In 1995, Von was leaving St. Thomas to go elsewhere. I asked him over a breakfast on the south campus of St. Thomas, “Von, you have all of these relationships and networks throughout the university, how can you leave?” I’ll never forget his response. He told me a story about the importance of leaving your comfort zone. He said, “Very few are willing to leave their comfort zone.”
That breakfast marked an ending and a beginning to my life. For two years, Von was there for me whenever I needed him. He was particularly helpful during that first year of college when we met weekly. He taught me how to talk to girls, to walk with confidence, to view joy in the journey and not the destination, to live with balance, and to put forth strong effort in my studies. I was a very thin 125 lb. college freshman lost in the crowd; but I experienced great love and support from Von Sheppard. Has Von’s counsel lasted? This tribute is a testimony of the long-lasting impact of good counseling. I recall many of the principles, lessons, confidence, and strengths instilled within me by Von Sheppard. And Von probably had an influence on my future profession as a psychologist.
So after many years, this is my personal tribute to Von Sheppard. You were a life-changing influence in my life!
