Editor’s Note: As we celebrate African Heritage Month in February, we’re proud to spotlight some of our own people, Black culture, contributions and history.
Here, we meet Richaun Moss, a fourth year StFX accounting and actuarial science student from Nassau, Bahamas. Along with serving as a Black Student Peer Mentor and a student residence leader, Mr. Moss has given back to StFX in a number of roles at the university. After graduation, he plans to take a master’s degree in actuary sciences before entering the field to work.
Black Student Peer Mentor, residence leader, and accounting and actuarial science student: Meet StFX student Richaun Moss
Richaun Moss, a fourth year accounting and actuarial science student in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business from Nassau, Bahamas, is looking forward to pursuing a career in actuary science (a field where math and stats are used to forecast and assess risk in industries and organizations) after his graduation from StFX.
Mr. Moss says he has always loved anything number related and the fact that this field is small, connected, engaged, and challenging appeals to him.
He is applying to grad school to take a master’s in actuary science and may also decide to work for a year or two before returning to school.
Over his four years at StFX, Mr. Moss has been an active, engaged member of the StFX community. He’s been involved in a number of initiatives, including this year where he is working as a Black Student Peer Mentor on campus and is a CA student leader in residence.
As a Black Student Peer Mentor, he wants to use his experience at StFX, including what he’s learned from the things he’s been involved in and the people he’s met, to give back and help others succeed.
Along the way in his degree path, Mr. Moss was a first year connector for the Black Student Society. He also served two years with the Discipline and Appeals Committee, and he worked two years with X Patrol. Additionally, he has served on the Quality of Life committee, and was a class notetaker.
Being involved, he says, helps him learn a lot about where he is, his environment, and the resources available. It also helps in networking.
His journey to StFX, from the Bahamas to Nova Scotia, started when he attended a career fair in high school, learning of the university. He and his best friend decided to attend.
One of the things he has liked most about the experience at StFX is the personal touch found at the university, where professors are helpful in answering questions to writing references.
It’s university, so there’s been both good times and bad times, but overall he says he’s gained lifelong memories and the people he’s met have helped enrich the experience. Overall, the experience has helped him learn about his capabilities, his weaknesses and areas to work on.
Growth has come from both inside and outside the classroom.
“Being a Black student and coming from a country that is predominantly Black to a predominantly white university, you learn who you really are and how comfortable you are with yourself,” he says.
The differences, particularly cultural, are a lot to take in at one time. In the process, you learn a lot about your strengths.
“You learn a sense of independence and learn to stand on your own. You become closer with your Blackness and more appreciative of your culture and where you come from, because it is so different. You realize how special it is.”
African Heritage Month is important, he notes, as it highlights how much Black people have grown, their strengths, and their presence in the world, and it celebrates and shows faces that look like you. For everyone else, it’s a chance to learn more about how Black students experience things.
“Everyone can learn more about Black culture and become more appreciative of Black culture,” he says.
A good start is just showing Black students you respect them and appreciate them and what they can contribute to the campus and to life in general.
Education is important as it can help people be more welcoming to those around them and be more compassionate. It also helps people really understand things that should and shouldn’t be said and what may unintentionally come across as rude.
StFX is making efforts to address racism, he says, notably with the introduction of the President’s Action Committee on Anti-Racism (PACAR) as well as initiatives like the Black Student Peer Mentor positions, which gives students a resource, a presence they’re comfortable with and willing to talk with about a variety of things.
When asked what else can be done, Mr. Moss says learning more about Black students and their personal experiences can help address issues and help students feel more connected rather than separate.
Connecting yourself to the situation is very important, he says.
This can be done by sitting down and talking to students to learn more about their personal experiences, to learn more about the individual, which in turn can help empower people to be more effective in addressing issues facing students.
“You can help Black students if you know what they’re actually going through.”
