Unconventional students at Rice 2017: Thu Nguyen

Thu Nguyen, a Wiess College senior majoring in chemistry and sociology, thought she knew what she wanted to be in life. “I came into Rice thinking I wanted to give back to the world by becoming a doctor, but I realized that I can give back to the world in other ways that I’m much better at,” Nguyen said.

Through sociology courses, student clubs and activist groups, she became more socially-aware and found her true passion lies in the creative field. This realization wasn’t easy for Nguyen at first. “If it wasn’t for the support system that people built here through friends, the administration and campus resources, I probably would not have found the strength to switch my life path,” she said.

An accumulation of all of her interests, Nguyen launched Rice Paper, a Houston-based magazine focusing on the Asian American community, which features stories from Asian American artists, entrepreneurs, writers and photographers.

After graduation, she plans to continue Rice Paper and pursue her passions through small business operations, content creation and design.