Warrior of the Week Tristan Karim ’25
As a student, what does Brother Rice (and the experience you have had so far) mean to you?
Brother Rice means the world to me. It has shaped me into the man I am today. Constant opportunities to grow in faith, to grow as a person, and to grow with your brothers. A couple hours before filling this form out I was talking to a classmate of mine and said that “I’m excited to start my adult life soon, but I do not want to leave Rice”. Brother Rice has prepared me in my studies and life. It has instilled in me the importance of hard work, love, commitment, courage, and has pushed me to limits I had never thought I’d be able to exceed but they continue to push me and my brothers putting their faith in us and truly wanting us to grow. Brother Rice has become a part of who I am, I can proudly say that I am a Brother Rice Warrior. I will forever take pride in my school.
How has Brother Rice helped you improve as a student?
Brother Rice has helped me improve as a student by the teachers and their passion for teaching and continuous efforts to push their students. The teachers love when you ask questions. They will show up 30 minutes earlier and stay 30 minutes later than school hours if it meant being able to help their students on the questions they have. Brother Rice has helped me go from a 1.8 my first semester of freshman year to a 3.7 the first quarter of my senior year.
List all your activities(clubs, sports, teams, honors, etc) and achievements at Brother Rice.
Football (2 years), medical club, business club, B honor roll x4, CORE leader, Peru mission trip, mentor group leader, Kairos leader
What Band are you a member of?
Brendan
When you think of Brother Rice, what three words come to mind first?
Thinking of Brother Rice I am unable to sum it up in only 3 words, but I can in 4. Respect, Integrity, Character and Excellence. These are the pillars of RICE that I try to live up to everyday. The teachers, and my brothers have helped me grow in all of these aspects of life.
Who is your favorite teacher or coach and why?
Although there are many teachers to choose from, I’d say that Mr. Seneski would have to be my favorite. Mr. Seneski has helped me grow in so many different ways, not only in the classroom but also in my mindset, and my faith. He made an effort to have a deeper talk with me my sophomore year and since we have built a deeper connection and truly feels like a friend that I can talk to about anything, which I have. He is constantly bringing the Lord into the classroom and truly wants us all grow. Mr. Seneski work ethic to make Brother Rice a better place is truly inspiring. He coordinates Mass, Kairos, and Campus Ministry. He takes pride in what he does and looks to make everyday a great day for the student. He is constantly looking to help to the best of his ability. He does this all while having a family and things to worry about outside of school. He is human just like I am, he deals with problems in his life. He may come to school having a bad day, but his love for this school allows him to put that to the side and make the student grow as much as possible. I look up to him and hope to live a life like his one day.
What’s your favorite place on campus and why?
My favorite place on campus would be the gym. I have countless amounts of memories in the gym that I will cherish for life. Mentor group games, school assemblies, playing basketball or football during my extra time at lunch. Mentor group games is my top 1 favorite thing in the gym.
What’s your favorite thing about Brother Rice?
The brotherhood, the culture, and the standards the teachers and staff holds us to. It’s hard to pick one. The brotherhood is a different type of love. As young men in high school we feel as if we can’t talk to anyone on a deeper level other than “Hi” and talking about homework, sports, classes, and things we do outside of school. The brotherhood allows us to talk to our brothers about things we are dealing with in our personal lives trusting that it stays between them, it allows seniors and freshman to get closer during mentor group and carry that bond outside of the school. The culture is something like I’ve never seen. There is constantly alumni and families of student giving back to the school and looking to better the lives of the students. Motivational Monday, kairos adult leaders, many teachers are alumni, and walking the halls seeing an alumnus. This shows that the culture of Brother Rice is deeper than just 4 years as a student. Finally the standards the teachers and staff hold us to. The teachers instill hard work, dedication, and discipline in us. They truly do prepare us not only for college but for life as they look to connect with their students on a deeper level giving many talks on life lessons and how to handle situations that may pop up in our lives.
What are some of the ways you have grown since you came to Brother Rice?
Brother Rice has helped me grow in many different ways. My faith, my knowledge, my study skills, academics, my mindset, my work ethic, and life skills to name a few. Brother Rice is continuously looking to help their students turn from boys to young men. I truly believe I would not be the person I am today without Brother Rice.