Charlotte, N.C./Oct. 5, 2022 – X’Orion Richmond ’22 knew the last thing he wanted to happen after graduating was to go out into the world jobless.
So, the Charlotte native took the bull by the horns to steer himself down the best career path possible with the help of the JCSU Center for Career and Postgraduate Readiness and the Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP).
“I’m always hungry for the next opportunity,” said Richmond. “I don’t want to graduate jobless, and always wanted to try to put Johnson C. Smith University on the map. My department also has a high expectation for us, so that’s also a factor.”
Richmond is studying Sport Management.
The HHP department director, Dr. Antonia S. Mead, said Richmond has a quiet nature, so she was glad to learn he was seeking out opportunities that allow him to shine.
“Experiential learning is important because it helps a student connect the classroom to the real world,” she said. “It’s great that X’Orion sought out these opportunities. It allows him to build a resume that is expansive. These opportunities allow him to level the playing field. He can compete with others who have had more access to networks and programming for years. These opportunities open avenues that many never thought or knew existed.”
Richmond has a strong work ethic. He grew up in a military family and later in a single-mother home. He worked for six years in direct care, where he would go to peoples’ homes to help adults or children with special needs.
Richmond was steeped in Charlotte’s rich sporting culture from a young age and always wanted to work for one of the professional teams in his hometown.
When the time came to look for colleges, Richmond found that JCSU was a good option. It was close to home, and he had always come to campus for basketball games as a kid.
After officially declaring a major in Sport Management his sophomore year, Richmond started looking for opportunities to grow inside and outside the classroom.
At JCSU, he interned with athletic trainers, became a member of the Human Health and Performance Club, and was an SGA Athletic committee member.
But outside of the classroom, he took advantage of several opportunities to grow in his field. He was a corporate partnership intern with the Carolina Panthers, a guest experience ambassador with the Charlotte Hornets, a medal ceremonies coordinator with the World Games and the Society of Health and Physical Educators - SHAPE Major of the Year. He was also a part of the NFL Experienceship in 2022.
“I go to the career center frequently,” said Richmond, who has been known to sit in the center and ask about upcoming opportunities. “I also stay connected with my professors and apply for jobs, even if I didn’t get them.”
Richmond said he feels the University is sometimes overlooked, so he wanted to become a pipeline for future studies to secure unique opportunities to learn outside the classroom. His goal is to become an executive for a sports team to increase the prominence of Black executives in the industry.
“Stay organized, and make the career center your best friend,” advises Richmond. “Be aware of opportunities and stay connected. Network and build meaningful relationships outside of school and work.”
