Talk to me about: Civic Immersion, Alternative Spring Break (ASB), Loewenstern Fellowship

Major: Biochemistry

Hey everyone! My name is Jorge Arnez Gonzales, and I am an international student from Bolivia majoring in biochemistry and on the pre-med/pre-grad track. In terms of social issues, I am very passionate about health equity under different lenses, particularly as it relates to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. In addition to healthcare, though, I am also very interested in equitable opportunities for education for marginalized communities. Outside of school, I enjoy taking naps while listening to Taylor Swift and Sarah Bareilles, going to the gym, and playing Pokemon.

I first got involved with the CCL through Civic Immersion (previously known as Civic Owlets) through its remote version. It was really life-changing because it equipped me with a lot of information and tools to understand and address issues about social justice. Since then, I have seized as many opportunities to work with the CCL to continue learning about social justice. I worked as a Civic Immersion Remote Site Leader and also worked as an Alternative Spring Break focused on LGBTQ+ mental health equity. Lastly, I was fortunate enough to go to Buenos Aires and do an internship with the Argentinian Red Cross as part of the Loewenstern Fellowship. I had a wonderful time being involved in delivering first aid training to schools and businesses, as well as understanding some of the administrative work behind non-profits.

The CCL has easily been one of the most impactful resources during my time at Rice before I even stepped foot on the Rice campus. I hope to help everyone be as involved as they want to be with the CCL for all of its learning and professional development opportunities. If you have any questions about the CCL or want to set up a meeting to chat, feel free to email me at jla11@rice.edu.