Noah Villa (he/him)
Senior, Will Rice College
Major: B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering
What is something you’re proud of this year?
This year, I’m proud to say that I have a job at Qualcomm lined up before graduation.
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
I would tell my freshman self to be kinder to himself. Getting here for the first time can be stressful and overwhelming, and seeing how the background of some people at this school gave them a leg up can make you feel like you need to sprint ahead to catch up. But life isn’t like that. Yes, doing well matters, and having a leg up would have been great, but we all ended up at Rice already. There’s nothing left to prove and no finish lines to race towards except the ones we set for ourselves.
How have you utilized RESP this year? How has RESP been beneficial for you this year?
This year, as in all my years at Rice, I’ve met regularly with my SSI advisor. These meetings have been excellent opportunities to reflect on and evaluate what’s been going on in my academic and personal life. My advisor has also helped me navigate various situations on campus, from communicating with the financial aid and cashier’s offices to making decisions about class choices.
Any advice for other students?
Your time at Rice is shorter than you think, and you also have a limited amount of energy to work toward your goals. I’d say that the sooner the better, figure out what you want your life to look like after college and work backward from there. You can even think about stories you’d like to one day tell about your college years.