Everyone & Everything

Growing up in Côte d’Ivoire shaped how Fatim, a biology major on the pre-med track, understood community. “A lot of African countries are 100% Muslim or 100% Christian. Côte d’Ivoire is really a melting pot - 50/50 Muslim and Christian,” Fatim explained. “There’s this cohabitation. We celebrate Eid together and we celebrate Lent together.” Even though many ethnicities and religions are represented at VCU, to Fatim, who was raised Muslim, VCU didn’t feel very diverse.

“Before I started coming to Sip n’ Tale book club at Pace, VCU felt like a foreign environment. I couldn’t find many occasions to connect with people. When I tried to go to events designed by VCU to help students meet other people, everyone was already in cliques. It was very isolating and lonely. I was mostly going to school and then going back home.”

At Pace, Fatim rediscovered the kind of diversity she had known growing up - people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences coming together with curiosity and respect. “I really liked the atmosphere,” she said. “I liked the discussions. I liked the people. So I just kept coming. I've gotten to know Christian people and atheists. I think it's really interesting to talk to everyone and try everything.”

Fatim opened up at Pace, growing not only socially, but as a leader. Through leadership trainings, she developed skills in communication, conflict management, and inclusivity - tools she now uses beyond Pace as the treasurer of oSTEM, a student org for queer students in STEM majors.

Now, Fatim helps perpetuate the welcoming feeling she first felt at Pace. “Before Pace, I wouldn't engage in conversation with someone I didn't know. But when I came to Pace, over and over people just randomly started conversations with me. And I realized, that's what Pace is about - meeting people. It’s something new every day. There’s a lot of people from different ethnicities, different life paths,” she said. “You meet people you would have never met otherwise. 

“And now I realize that I’m that person! I’ll start a conversation with anyone. I feel like it’s still my first year in the US. I discover so many new things every single day.” 

Your support helps students engage in a diverse, intentional community at VCU. Thank you!