Rooted in Rice: Care, Curiosity and Community

#Academics #ResidentialColleges #CampusLife

Care

During O-Week, I fell and hit my knee while jumping into the Jones College Fairy Fountain. As a Jones RHA (Rice Health Advisor) attended my scrape, I realized how grateful I was for Rice’s Culture of Care. An RHA’s goal is to ensure that each student feels supported mentally and physically, and this RHA not only saved my day but actually became a vital resource during my transition to college. Wanting to provide that same support to others, I have now been an RHA for 3 years, helping new students as they experience campus life for the first time!

Group of people, all covered in shaving cream
The day I fell in the fountain!
Three people close together, mid-speech, cheering to people off-screen
Me and my fellow RHA advisors

Curiosity

Academically, opportunities at Rice have let me follow my curiosity and take initiative! I joined the “Launching! to Adulthood” research lab at the Texas Medical Center (TMC), working closely with participants, analyzing data, and collaborating with an experienced research team. Our research focused on young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and I formed meaningful connections with my mentor and participating families. These relationships transformed abstract research questions into deeply human stories and allowed me to further develop my passion for developmental psychology. What started as a learning experience evolved into a leadership role, and I became the lab’s lead research assistant. Though our research was done in the TMC, I received class credit (shoutout PSYC 488) and presented my findings at the 2024 Social Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium. 

Girl with poster with diagrams in front of a large glass doors
Presenting research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
Two people standing in front of a poster of a man
We went to a show at the Alley Theatre!

Community

Beyond the classroom, Rice lets me pursue passions that make me feel most like myself. Whether acting alongside talented peers, going to see showstopping plays at Houston's Alley Theatre, or traveling with my cohort to Chicago, I have had SO. MUCH. FUN. At Rice, it’s so easy to get involved in extracurricular activities, but we always say that if you can’t find one, make one! My friend Claire and I founded our residential college’s theater committee, JiBroAdway (Jones + Broadway), earlier this year. Since its founding, we’ve put on 2 fantastic showcases (Hamilton and Wicked sing-throughs), and even collaborated with Rice’s official theatre department to promote our Spring Musical.

People throwing snowballs at the camera
On a theater field trip to Chicago
People gesturing at a sign that spells "JONES COLLEGE"
That's us - the Jones College Theatre!

My time at Rice has been deeply meaningful, enabling me to explore academic interests while also engaging fully in the extracurriculars that make Rice so unique!

-Katie, Jones ‘26 (Published on 3/10/2026)

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