Letter to the Editor: A few ideas to help low-income students thrive

The first time I felt patronized and pitied because of my economic background at Rice happened in a conversation with a peer in the first few weeks of school. The other student explained his dad’s career, then naturally asked what my parents do. Gently emphasizing that I come from a single-parent household, I told him my mom is a personal trainer. Even though I am very proud of my mom and how far she has come, I saw the unmistakable pity in his eyes as he said to me, “Wow! You must have worked so hard to get here.”