Hiya! My name is Jack Hellberg and I am a 4th year Psychology student. I have a personal connection with psychology in healthcare, and I am planning on pursuing a career in clinical psychology. I am specifically interested in the obstacles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, USA, and moved to Aberdeen two years ago. I did my first year of university at an institution in Boston, but found it was not for me for several reasons. I had always been interested in moving out of the States, and I decided that this was the perfect moment.
The University of Aberdeen has proven itself as an excellent university for me. I feel well supported in my courses and I am taken seriously in my work. Particularly in the School of Psychology, it is clear that much time has been dedicated to ensuring that all of the courses are structured around each other. I have also had the pleasure to both serve as a class representative for the School of Psychology and work as an intern for the Research & Innovation (R&I) department, with both having put me in contact with many kind members of staff and giving me insight into the complex structures that support the university.
The city of Aberdeen has a charm that I know will call me back once I have left. Coming from Los Angeles, the beach here is particularly important to me. You can frequently find me walking on the sand or even going for a swim in the North Sea. The wildlife is also special to me, and I frequently will stop to say hi to the seals and, if I am lucky, the otters. In town, I recommend you give Foodstory Café a shout for lunch. It is my favourite place for a bit of scran.
It is difficult to imagine my life if I had not made the jump it took to get to the University of Aberdeen, and I am incredibly happy that I did. Aberdeen feels more like my home then Los Angeles ever did, and I am excited to continue my new life in Scotland.
If you have any questions for me, please do not hesitate to reach out. I am happy to share my experiences in more detail. You can also find me on the ‘Life as an International Student’ episode of the Ask Aberdeen podcast. Cheers!
Jack will begin his 4th year of studies in September 2021.
