Life at College
2 MAJORS · 5+ LEADERSHIP ROLES · 3 COUNTRIES ABROAD
More Than a Degree
I attended Rice University, and going into college, I didn’t really know what to expect. I understood the basic formula: go to class, get good grades, build a résumé, and eventually land a job. What I didn’t realize was how much of college happens outside that formula.
I started saying yes to almost everything. I joined teams, took on leadership roles, studied abroad, pursued internships, and tried things I wasn’t necessarily qualified for yet. Over time, I realized that getting the opportunity was only the beginning. What mattered was what I did with it. I started to see how one experience could open the door to another.
I came out of Rice with much more than a degree. I learned to say yes before I felt completely ready, make the most of the opportunities in front of me, and keep building on each experience. Looking back, that mindset shaped my college years just as much as anything I learned in a classroom.
Things I Said Yes To
DANCE
SAILING
LEADERSHIP
ABROAD
CAREER
How I Lived College
I went into college with a simple philosophy: say yes to everything once. Even if something felt awkward, random, or a little outside my comfort zone, I wanted to try it. For example, I said yes to joining the sailing team without knowing where it would lead. Two years later, I was part of a national championship team.
That mindset applied to the small moments too. I would make an effort to sit down with strangers at lunch and start a conversation. At Rice, that meant meeting people from all over the world, hearing stories completely different from mine, and learning from people I probably never would have met otherwise.
It also filled my calendar. My days often started at 6 a.m. with a morning run and didn’t end until 10 p.m., when I finally made it back to my dorm. Even then, I’d usually stay up another hour talking and hanging out with friends. Between classes, dance practices, sailing, leadership meetings, TA-ing, and everything else I had signed up for, most days I was going from one thing straight into the next.
I loved how full my days were. There was always something happening, someone to see, or somewhere to be. I wanted to take full advantage of being part of a college community while I had it. I left Rice without thinking, “I wish I had tried that.” If I wanted to try something, I usually did.
3 Things I Took With Me
1. It's a Numbers Game
Don’t count yourself out before you’re told no. You only need a few yeses, or in some cases, just one. The more I put myself out there, the more opportunities I created.
2. Get in The Right Rooms
Being around ambitious people changed what I thought was possible. The people around me pushed me to aim higher and introduced me to opportunities I wouldn’t have found on my own.
3. Opportunities Compound
One opportunity can lead to another in ways you never could have planned. A single yes can introduce you to new people, new experiences, and completely different paths.
Four Years in Photos
