MY AGGIE STORY
Selfless Service to Help Other Aggies Feel Heard
A LISTENING EAR - Throughout his time as a HelpLiner, Julius Jang '22 has had the opportunity to support his fellow Aggies through anything they might be going through, big or small. He believes that everyone needs someone who will listen.
By Olivia Garza '23
Selfless service is an adage that is familiar to any Aggie. To be a selfless servant is to help others without hesitation, even if it comes at a cost to the individual serving. The desire to serve and lend a helping hand to fellow Aggies has had a huge influence in shaping Julius Jang’s experience as a member of the fightin’ Texas Aggie class of ‘22.
Julius came to Texas A&M from Katy with a plan to study economics and to pursue a career in the business world. However, while sitting in a psychology class during his first semester, his view of that plan shifted. He fell in love with the field of psychology but instead of completely changing directions, he found a way to blend two interests.
“I realized that my passions lie more in psychology,” he said. “But I already took a bunch of econ credits. I felt like just double majoring in both would be beneficial for me because I also want to delve into business in the future.”
Julius plans to combine his psychology and economics knowledge to establish his own psychiatry practice. In the meantime, he is using what he learns in the classroom to serve his fellow Aggies.
In the same psychology class in which Julius was introduced to what will become his future career, he discovered another passion.
“My professor casually mentioned HelpLine,” he said, “but I really didn't give a thought until the next semester when I realized I wanted to go into the psychology field as a career. I'm passionate about mental health and especially on this large campus, I would like to help students feel comfortable and heard.”
His desire to ensure that every Aggie feels heard led him to become a HelpLine volunteer in the spring of 2021.
Throughout his time as a HelpLiner, Julius has had the opportunity to support his fellow Aggies through anything they might be going through, big or small. He believes that everyone needs someone who will listen. Today, he is that person for other students. In the future, he hopes to be that person for his patients.
By speaking to callers about their challenges, Julius has learned a lot about himself. He says his time volunteering for HelpLine has taught him how to be more vulnerable and a great listener. More than anything, his time as a HelpLiner has shown him that, although Texas A&M’s student population is diverse, Aggies are more alike than different.
“It’s a large campus, but you can always find people with whom you can relate,” he said. “Many people have the misconception that they won't fit in, but I think it's impossible not to fit in at Texas A&M because there are so many different types of people.”
Julius is a perfect example of how many things in life don’t often go as planned. His original plan of coming to Texas A&M to study economics turned into much more. He has become a part of something much larger than himself and learned that there is always someone willing to listen.
“Every problem is important,” he said. “Every story matters.”