Lovett freshman at home far from New Jersey
Less than a year ago, Lovett College freshman Grace Nosek had never heard of Rice. A native of Haddonfield, New Jersey, Nosek discovered Rice in December on a list of best-value universities.
Nosek said she first considered applying to Rice after she learned the siblings of one of her brother’s friends are students here.
“They started putting a face on the school in Texas,” Nosek said. “I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I can go down South.’”
Nosek, who also considered Dartmouth and Georgetown, said she decided on Rice because she was impressed by the students and the residential college system.
“When I [visited], everyone was friendly, almost tripping over themselves to help me and put me in the right direction,” Nosek said. “I thought the people had a lot of substance and cared about the world around them.”
One of Nosek’s first experiences after arriving this year both surprised her and made her feel at home. Nosek said she visited her college the day before O-Week began because she was nervous about moving in.
“We came around to Lovett,” Nosek said. “I didn’t know him at the time, but [Lovett O-Week Coordinator Jacob Lopez] was wandering around outside and was like, ‘Hey, Grace!’ and I had my sunglasses on and everything. From that moment I knew that this was going to be a good time.”
O-Week also helped Nosek meet new people and make friends. Nosek said she was glad to interact with so many students. “My friends [at other schools] really lacked that,” Nosek said. “They were so homesick the first couple of weeks. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s too bad. I have friends. I know people.’”
A soccer player in high school, Nosek said she plans to participate in a variety of intramural sports and extracurricular activities. Sailing, rappelling with the Outdoors Club and Powderpuff football all interest her, Nosek said.
Nosek said one of her favorite things about Rice is that many organizations are student -run.
“If the world is saying we’re adults, we might as well be able to take care of ourselves … completely,” Nosek said. “I think obviously your peers know what’s troubling you more than adults [do].”
Academically, Nosek still is not sure what to expect, since she has not turned in any papers or tests. However, Nosek said she likes her classes so far.
Although she would like to do well academically, Nosek said her main goal is to be happy.
“Yeah, I’d like to do madly well in school for my own gratification and also to make sure my parents know why they’re paying for private school,” Nosek said. “But I’m not going to kill myself to get good grades. I really want to meet different people.”
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