Alumnus Profile: Julius James, 2007

An interest in business and economics made Resource Economics the best fit as a major for Senior Julius James, as he has always been interested in seeing the real-world application of what he learns in the classroom. With its focus on the application of economics and business methods to the production and marketing of food products and the management of environmental and natural resources, the Resource Economics major has allowed him to do just that.

“It was hard at first because Resource Economics is incredibly challenging, but the teachers make it interesting. I started to become more and more interested as I saw the ways that it is a subject that is actually happening in the world right now,” he said. One of his favorite activities was working with classmates in Dr. Lopez’s Marketing and Futures Trading class to trade fictional futures on the market, “We crashed a few times!” he said, but were able to learn the basics of trading and the workings of the market.

The challenge of his classes has always been tempered, he said, with the willingness of Professors and graduate students to offer extra help and review sessions and to answer any questions that he might have. The major’s low faculty to student ratio makes it possible, he says.

A focus in his coursework on Environmental Economics and Policy combined with a minor in Geography has made Julius’s course of study even more appropriate for him. “I love to know how the world is operating,” he said “I try to understand the planet and the earth and how things work in time with such precision-its amazing.”

With its emphasis on literacy, discipline, and community service, the educational system in Trinidad and Tobago proved to be a good match for Julius’s natural talents. Now working with the Husky Sport program at Uconn, Julius visits Hartford elementary schools to help students make good choices about their education, futures, and their nutritional choices. “The kids are just eating snacks,” he said “and they don’t know how to make choices about what to eat, and its especially hard when healthy food is so much more expensive than junk food. The more we can educate kids about healthy food, the better.” He is frustrated with what he sees as the result of the “No Child Left Behind” act, where teachers review for standardized tests, leaving students with few breaks during the day or time for activities.

“Kids need to expend their energy,” he said. “We get out there and help them get active and teach them about choices and opportunity.”

Orginally a competitive swimmer in his childhood, Julius’ parents suggested that he take time off from the sport to study for the nation’s notoriously difficult secondary school entrance exams. When it came time to return to the pool, Julius found that he didn’t have interest in the sport and turned his abilities to soccer. Now Uconn’s Men’s Soccer Captain with the enviable record of being named to the First Team All-New England, Big East Defensive Player of the Year, and the 10th player in UConn Men’s Soccer history to be named an NSCAA First Team All-American, he is in the running for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award. He is a promising pick for several professional soccer teams following his upcoming graduation.

And, while his immediate goal is to play soccer professionally following his graduation in December, Julius knows that the solid background as a Resource Economics major with a focus in the area of Environmental Economics and Policy will serve him well in any career. “I couldn’t have chosen a better major,” he said “The teachers are open... They know the material is hard, but someone is always there to help.”

The many aspects of being his team captain have been challenging, he said, but he has had a great mentor in the UConn Soccer coach, Ray Reid. “He’s driven, he has discipline, and he’s constant: all the qualities of a leader. He holds everyone accountable, even himself” Being a team captain, Julius says, means that your reputation has to precede you, both on and off the field. “You have to be a consistent player, set a good example, and then the level of the team and the players will rise.”

When asked what he might recommend to students planning on majoring in Resource Economics he says “Be prepared. Coming to this side of campus takes getting used to, but once you are here the people and the professors are open and warm hearted and they want to make a connection with students.”