Decision Time
Seniors agonize about where to call home for the next four years
By Parker Landis
Chieftain Staff
Little did I know that when I started my
fi rst day at Rice that my college process
would be underway.
Everything I’ve done at Rice has
affected what college I will attend:
What sports I played, my grades,
and the clubs I’ve been involved
in. They all shaped where I would
apply, who would accept me, and,
eventually, where I will call home
the next four years.
Honestly, I didn’t realize the
college process was even under-
way until Junior year. Heading
down to the college workshop and
then taking college visits, I quickly
started to understand my options. I
visited schools all over the country,
such as North Carolina, Marquette,
Wisconsin, and Tennessee. I weighed pros
and cons between going South and being
warm all year or heading across the lake
and being closer to home.
Before Senior year started, I was ham-
mering away at apps, writing essays,
and getting recommendations from
my teachers. I think many of my fellow
Seniors agree that this was one of the
most stressful times of high school. Try-
ing to balance classes with college apps
and still trying to make it to the football
games, it didn’t leave me with a lot of
time to myself. I didn’t realize how much
I needed to grab a breath.
Through it all, the hardest part has
been fi nalizing where to go. Wait-
ing to see if you get into your
dream school is one of the most
nervous times of your life. You
check daily to see if your app has
been reviewed. And seeing your
fellow Seniors get accepted only
adds to the agony.
The whole college process is
stressful and nerve-wracking. But,
above all, it’s worth it. Seeing all of
the work you have put in through
your years at Rice fi nally pays off.
All the Huber videos, Hickey quiz-
zes, and Señora lectures get you to
the one goal you have been looking
for.
My advice is to fi nd the college that
you think is best. Don’t listen to friends
or alumni, listen to your gut and choose
the college you see in yourself.
New Venue, Same Story
Regardless of new location, Irish Nite Auction still a great time
By DaRon Gilbert
Chieftain Staff
Brother Rice’s annual Irish Nite Auc-
tion is an event where the Rice commu-
nity gets together for a fun night, fi lled
with different items and festivities, with
all proceeds benefi ting the students of
Brother Rice.
Our sources tell us the proceeds from
the 2018 Auction, which took place March
17 at the Birmingham Country Club, have
already exceeded last year’s. In the days
after the event, the Chieftain was able to
get some insight about this year’s event
from Mrs. Reid, one of the event coordi-
nators.
“It is defi nitely up from last year,” Mrs.
Reid told us. “Around $300,000 is the
estimate.”
The night began with a light reception,
where people met and browsed through
items in the Silent Auction. The crowd
quickly noticed the many different spon-
B R OTHE R R IC E H IG H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
This year’s Irish Night Auction was at BCC
sors recognized on the walls and TV
screens displayed throughout the night.
Then dinner was served.
Even while food was being served and
eaten this year, attendees could check
their bids on a “bidpal,” which allowed
them to monitor the progress of their
bids on their phones, rather than return-
ing to check on their items.
Principal O and President Reidy
P AGE 3
helped keep the Silent Auction abuzz,
making announcements and encouraging
everyone to keep bidding before the time
was up. As the night went on, the Silent
Auction came to a close, allowing the Live
Auction to take place.
Both President Reidy and Principal O
orchestrated an exuberant crowd dur-
ing the Live Auction. Principal O even
auctioned off his very own Warrior belt:
It sold for $1,000 to lacrosse coach Ajay
Chawla.
The DJ, Jim Salter, also kept the night
lively with great music, while many
people continued to eat and browse.
An event normally held at Brother Rice,
this year’s Auction was moved off site. So
why the change?
“We wanted to try something new,”
said Mrs. Lievois, who works in the Ad-
vancement Department. “We were think-
ing it was St. Patrick’s Day, and thought it
would be fun to take it off site.”
M A R C H 2018