Chance Encounter

As the child of a military family, Olivia attended ten different schools before arriving at VCU, often navigating new spaces from the sidelines. “I’ve done my share of sitting in a corner, waiting for a chance encounter,” she reflected. 

Drawn by a desire for connection, Olivia sought a community that encouraged exploration and openness. “There’s such a wide assortment of people at Pace,” she said. “It pushes me to connect beyond what’s familiar.”

That spirit of experimentation inspired Olivia to help launch a morning prayer group. “I like praying in community and wanted a prayer service with people my age on campus,” she said. “Morning Prayer gets me up, gets me moving, and helps me set an intention for the day.” Through Pace, she connected with students from nearby St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and coordinated with them to start the ministry. “It’s been a really nice bonding activity, to pray together."

Students from other religious traditions have joined Pace’s morning prayer service. “I love being in Episcopal churches. I love the Episcopal Method of worship, but I also love seeing how other people worship,” Olivia said. “Hearing different perspectives keeps me grounded and helps grow my appreciation for new expressions of faith.” 

Now a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Olivia continues to deepen her involvement with Pace. This year, she helped develop and teach Pace’s leadership curriculum, equipping students with the tools to build community. Through this work, she gained both practical skills and a guiding insight: “We’re all here because we want meaningful connection and a place to belong.” That belief shapes how Olivia shows up for others. At a recent Pace event, she saw a new student sitting alone. Olivia struck up a conversation. “Sometimes quiet people just need someone energetic to get them out of their comfort zone.” 

Through experiences like these, Olivia has become a confident community organizer, sharing her skills with the wider world. “Recently, my tattoo artist said that they want to start hosting community events in their space. I was like, I can help you do that. I know how to make community happen.”

This spring, as Pace wishes luck to our many graduating seniors, we invite you to help future students experience the same welcoming faith experience Olivia found at the Pace Center.

Donate today to support a space where students can find belonging, grow in faith, and build community.