Angye Bardales Martinez

What is something you’re proud of this year?

I'm really proud of the work I’ve done with RISE this year. Specifically, in putting together the event that brought Heather McGhee, author of “The Sum of Us,” to campus. It was such an amazing experience to be able to read a book about a topic I’m so passionate about, discuss it with my peers who are equally as passionate, and then connect with the author herself! McGhee is such an engaging and compelling speaker, and the kind words she extended to me during her visit are ones I’ll never forget—and that serve as a reminder of all the amazing things I can do at Rice.

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

I think the biggest piece of advice I’d give to my freshman self is to journal everything. With the incredible ups and downs I went through, I found myself focusing so much more on the downs and it would have been so comforting to have been able to go back and read about the highs. It’d also be really nice to look back a few years from now and come upon some memories I had forgotten about! The second biggest piece of advice I’d give my freshman self is to ask for help! I made sure to create a support system for myself—I made close friends, connected with professors, met with my Student Success Initiatives (SSI) advisor and a counselor at the Rice Counseling Centre (RCC)—but in the moments when I most needed help I failed to actually use my support system, and I regret it! It can be tough, but learning to reach out for help is one of the best things to do for yourself.

How have you utilized the SSI office this year? How has SSI been beneficial for you this year?

SSI has really been my go-to place for anything and everything this year! Meeting with an SSI advisor regularly, even when I didn't have any specific concerns and just went to touch bases, has been really useful for me. Whether it was study and time management tips, self-care tips, learning about different events/clubs/classes that were relevant to me, or just some kind words---or even well-needed tough words---I always left my meetings with something valuable and feeling very supported. One thing that has really stuck with me was my SSI advisor telling me to strive for my "favorite self" rather than my "best self." It was a very simple but helpful piece of advice that has allowed me to better understand and be kinder to myself. In general, whenever I have ideas for things I want to do at Rice or have specific questions that I'm not sure who can answer, SSI is my first stop and they never fail to direct me to where I can find help.

Any advice for other students?

My first piece of advice is to put yourself out there! That goes for everything: approaching new people, talking to your professors 1-on-1, applying to jobs and internships, etc. There’s really nothing to lose, but so much to gain! My second piece of advice is to remember gratitude. We all know how stressful college life is—struggling to obtain work-life balance, constantly feeling pressured to succeed and meet our own high standards, fearing the unknown…it’s a lot. So it’s important to take a step back to recall and reflect upon all the things you’ve accomplished and all the good memories you’ve made already. Don’t downplay your success and remember how amazing it is that you made it to Rice in the first place. Be grateful for each and every one of these opportunities and experiences. Some other advice: don’t be ashamed of being passionate and enthusiastic, be willing to push back against ideas! Don’t be intimidated to use your voice for disagreement; different opinions and perspectives are what allow us to truly learn and understand the world better. Definitely take advantage of all the resources on campus (SSI, Well-being, Office of Academic Advising, etc.), find study groups/friends (this place is nearly impossible to navigate alone), create a very detailed schedule for yourself, and actually try to prioritize sleep (you’d be surprised how much more efficient you can be with good sleep)!