Ambiance

Mo is an International Studies major who graduated from VCU earlier this spring. When Mo first moved to Richmond, they barely knew anything about the city. “I only knew Virginia existed because of the musical Hamilton,” they joked. Mo had grown up in Nigeria and attended boarding school there, graduating at just 14. Mo began college when they were only 16. Their family had relocated from Dubai to Richmond and Mo chose VCU because it was the closest school to home. As a commuter student without a car, accessibility mattered.

During their second week at VCU, Mo heard about an event called Stories & Lunch. “One of my classes had just ended,” Mo recalled. “I thought, I know I can walk there.” At first, Mo was reserved. “Conversation was already brewing in the Sanctuary, but it takes me a while to warm up in a new situation, so I barely said anything the first few times I came.” The shared meals at Stories & Lunch reminded Mo of boarding school in Nigeria, where everyone gathered around the table to talk about their week, their joys, and their stressors. Gradually, something shifted. “Eventually, I saw myself holding conversations, asking questions, and being curious. Pace has done more for me in terms of public speaking than any class I’ve taken.”

As Mo continued showing up, they found even more belonging—not just through conversations, but through cooking. “I stress-cook,” they explained. “Sometimes I don’t even eat the food myself. Cooking helps me clear my head. Students would walk into Pace’s kitchen and ask, ‘What are you making?’ And maybe it was a meal from my home country, my hometown, or something I grew up cooking and I got to share that story.” Through food, Mo found common ground and a way to share their gifts, and the kitchen became a space of healing, storytelling, and community. 

As a commuter, Mo came to rely on Pace as a home base on campus. “There’s an ambiance here. It’s accepting. If you want to talk, someone’s always ready. If you want to study, there’s space for that too. This is in my top three experiences at VCU. I’m so glad I found the Pace Center early on. It really shaped my time at university.” Your generous support helps Pace shape the lives of thousands of students. Thank you!