In any given Grier class, you can see students from China, Vietnam, Germany, Mexico, Nigeria, and from just down the road. As students flood the hallways, it can often sound like the floor of a UN general assembly with a variety of languages dancing throughout the space.
One of the best parts about Grier is that it welcomes students representing over 35 countries. The diversity here allows students to express themselves, while learning about different cultures, traditions, and heritages. Grier has always been a special place for people to bond over common interests as well as meet people from all around the world.
“I love how there are people from different cultures, and I don’t feel weird about my accent because people here all have unique accents,” said Maryam Ali, ‘26, an international student from Karachi, Pakistan. “And there’s opportunities for exploration. You don’t feel insecure about your skin tone; there’s no racial judgement. I feel confident because it’s a homelike environment.”
International schools have been successfully introducing diversity into communities all around the world for decades. Grier’s global diversity gives students a better understanding of life outside of the United States, providing a window into what life is like halfway across the world. “Grier made me more open and mindful of other people’s religion,” said Aysu Asgarova, a sophomore from St. Petersburg, Russia. “When I travel it’s really cool because I get to see people with the same culture that I’ve been introduced to at school. It makes me able to better understand and respect the people around me.”
Whether students live eight thousand miles away or eight minutes down the road, they make connections that last a lifetime. Many Grier students reflect on their experience in a diverse boarding school as being one of the best they’ve ever had. “I think Grier is great. I get to see other cultures and people from different countries. Being around people from different places shows how you can change as an individual, even if it’s just small things,” said Hazel Pratts, a sophomore from Brooklyn, NY.
Diversity is all around us, and Grier helps us appreciate the beauty of our differences as well as the ties that bind us all together.
