I have always wanted to live on my own and study at Rice, and after years of preparation, I was finally about to live my dream. International Orientation got me off to a fantastic start; I met friends who I’m still close to today and also began settling in, both culturally and logistically. Next came O-Week, which was a whirlwind of activity. Shortly after that, my parents returned to Brazil and it hit me — I was completely on my own. The realization was sobering: I would spend the next four years in a new country, thousands of miles away from my family, and learning to navigate a completely unfamiliar environment.
My first semester did not go as planned. Everything felt different — from the food to the grading system and even the teaching style — I had serious doubts about whether my background had sufficiently prepared me for the academic rigor at Rice. Anxiety began to creep in, and I started questioning everything that I was certain about: Did I really want to major in astrophysics? Did I make the right decision in choosing Rice and moving far away from everything that I knew well? Would I be able to succeed here? Feeling increasingly overwhelmed, I reached out to the Rice Wellbeing Office. Their support helped me realize that it was okay to live in a reality different from the one I had expected and provided strategies to help me adapt to Rice’s fast-paced environment. During this time, I also sought advice from other international students as well as the Brazilian community. Their shared experiences reassured me that I wasn’t alone.
Over time, I learned to embrace mistakes as part of the process, especially after going through such big changes. I reminded myself of the hard work that got me to Rice and changed my outlook to be more positive when facing obstacles. I decided to focus on growth and applied to be a campus tour guide. Not only has being an Owl Guide helped me to improve my communication skills, it has also allowed me to connect with prospective students while sharing my expertise on how students can balance academic work and leisure.
In addition to becoming an Owl Guide, I also joined my first extracurricular, the Physics Outreach Program. Now, my schedule includes two jobs, research, coursework, and extracurricular activities. Balancing everything isn’t easy, but it’s doable. Most importantly, prioritize your well-being. Sometimes you simply do not have enough time for everything, so make sure you know what is most important to you. Burnout is counterproductive, and college life isn’t just about preparing for the future — it’s about finding joy in the present. Rice will provide the tools to help you achieve this balance, and with a little trial and error, you’ll discover what works best for you. Plus, the supportive community here will ensure that you never have to face challenges alone!
-Lívia, Lovett ‘26 (Published on 4/08/2025)
