Aggies in Action: Supporting Student Wellbeing with Nabeela Hassan ’26

At Texas A&M University, student leaders are constantly creating meaningful ways to support their peers based on the Aggie Core Values, and for Nabeela Hassan ’26, that impact begins with wellbeing for on-campus residents.

As a biomedical engineering major and wellbeing ambassador within the Department of Residence Life, Hassan is passionate about helping students take care of themselves in ways that are both practical and meaningful.

A Passion for Wellness

Hassan’s interest in wellbeing was not something she gained in college.

“Wellness has always been something that’s really important to me,” she said. “Growing up I had some close friends who struggled with mental health, so it was something that I really valued and prioritized taking care of.”

As she spent more time at Texas A&M, she found a way to utilize that passion.

“I worked on campus as a resident advisor, and I was moving off campus,” she said. “So [my supervisor] said that there was an opportunity for me to stay in the department just in an adjacent role as a wellbeing ambassador.”

Hassan shared that the role felt like a natural next step.

“As [a wellbeing ambassador] I could still do programming, but it would just be completely focused on wellness,” she said.

Creating Meaningful Programs

In her role, Hassan leads and works events designed to help students build essential life skills and better understand how to take care of their whole wellbeing.

“In a typical event, we normally have some sort of presentation of material,” she said. “Whether that’s a handout where people can learn about tips for taking care of their mental health or whether it’s a short slideshow.”

After the learning portion of the event, comes a connection opportunity and practice for the students.

“We’ll spend the rest of the time doing a fun activity,” she said.

One program she felt was a standout event.

“One program that really stood out to me was when I did a program to teach people about how to use credit cards,” she said. “After I did my presentation, they came up and continued asking questions and it was a really cool opportunity.”

Building Real Connections

For Hassan, the most meaningful part of her role is the relationships she builds with students.

“Wellbeing is something that’s important to everyone, whether or not they recognize it,” she said. “So, when you really connect with them, it’s not a surface-level kind of connection.”

Hassan shared that in order to uncover the important topics, conversations often require trust.

“People feel more comfortable opening up when the setting is more private,” she continued, “so, we’ll go on a walk… Have a conversation in a study room.”

Understanding Student Challenges

Through her events and check-ups, Hassan has gained a deeper understanding of the challenges students face.

“Something that a lot of students struggle with [is] time management,” she said. “It’s really hard to deal with having to do schoolwork and also having different friend groups and still have time to take a moment and breathe.”

She also shared how the role has shifted her perspective and impacted her empathy.

“I’m a very optimistic person and I kind of assume that everyone’s having a great time,” she said, “but through this job I’ve [been able] to see how people really are struggling with a lot of different things.”

Growing Through the Experience

While Hassan is supporting others, as a student worker for The Department of Residence Life, she’s also developing skills that will stay with her long after college.

“Being a wellbeing ambassador has really empowered me to learn a lot of new skills,” she said. “Communicating with people and having difficult conversations and also managing having lots of different responsibilities.”

What Wellbeing Means

For Hassan, wellbeing goes beyond just one area of life.

“Wellbeing to me encompasses a bunch of different areas,” she said. “I care about not only my mental health, but also my physical wellbeing and my social wellbeing and just every area.”

She emphasizes the importance of balance, and how she’s achieved that.

“Understanding that I need to give time and focus on each different aspect of my life in order to maintain a healthy overall wellbeing,” she said.

During busy seasons, she turns to simple habits to reset.

“Something that I like to do when I have a very stressful week or after I have a test, I’ll go for a run,” she said. “It just helps to do some sort of physical activity to let off the stress and leave behind whatever I have been working on.”

Making an Impact

Through her work as a wellbeing ambassador, Hassan is passionate about creating a more supportive campus environment.

“I really enjoy being a wellbeing ambassador because it gives me the opportunity to change people’s lives in a really meaningful way,” she said.