When contemplating which university to attend, Sarah Kim '24 (Hanszen), a business major, prioritized location, school size and campus culture, ultimately deciding Rice offered the perfect blend.
“I chose Rice due to a holistic combination of factors,” Sarah said. “I had heard from a couple of alumni from my high school that they really loved the residential college system, and I loved the emphasis Rice had on orientation week. Plus, Houston is a big city, and I had grown up in a small city, so I wanted to see what it was like out there in the bigger world.”
This bigger world experience included finding a mentor in a marketing class led by Jaeyeon Chung. “She is a Korean woman teaching in business, which is a pretty niche intersectionality of identities,” Sarah said. “It’s rare to see Korean women in business. Having a professor that reflected my identity was so impactful, and I really enjoyed learning under her leadership.”
Sarah also describes her time as an O-Week participant and advisor as instrumental to her overall student experience. “As a team, we pulled off one of the greatest O-Weeks I believe,” she said. “We came together to make sure new students were comfortable and had as easy a transition into college life as possible. I was very proud to be a Hanszen-ite.”
O-Week not only helped Sarah feel connected to Hanszen but also to the people she met while there. “The relationships I have made through being an advisor are still strong,” she said. “I ended up meeting my best friend there and growing closer to the people I was already friends with. Rice students genuinely and truly care about building each other up.”
In addition to helping with O-Week, Sarah has served as a diversity facilitator for Hanszen, social chair for Rice Program Council and coordinator for Beer Bike.
Sarah shared that Rice donors enable her to pursue her interests and talents: “Without their generosity, my future would have been very different. Because of Rice’s financial aid, I am able to fully immerse myself in the student experience, branching out to new paths and opportunities. I am very privileged to enjoy the Rice experience without financial concerns. It really is one of my biggest blessings.”
With generous support from the Rice Annual Fund, the university continues to offer Sarah and other Owls the best in financial aid, residential college life, student activities, teaching and research. Learn more about how your gift to the Rice Annual Fund can make an impact.
