Unconventional students at Rice 2018: Writing her own story

Swimming brought Jaecey Parham to Rice, but once she arrived, she explored so much more. She discovered her love for English through a Victorian literature class and went on to major in it.

“I enjoy how broad the degree is,” Parham said. “I’m not just boxed into journalism, or I’m not just boxed into one specific path. I can do whatever I want. And all of the people that I met at Rice were part of that journey to help me and encourage me.”

After graduation, Parham will work for a local film production company and aspires to become a producer, director or screenwriter — or all three. She credits swimming coach Seth Huston for allowing her the freedom to pursue interests outside the pool.

“If there was a last-minute shoot or a last-minute trip for the documentary, he would let me do that and make up the swim practice later,” she said. “I didn’t have to be a machine in the pool and swim all the time.”