The place(s) I call “home”: Karachi, Pakistan
Class year: 2014
Major/Intended Major: Computer Science and Math
Why I chose Grinnell: It’s a GREAT school
How I spend my time: The open community and welcoming atmosphere of Grinnell have allowed me to make some great friends and I really enjoy spending time with them. At the same time, however, I also like to occupy myself by learning more about my own interests and expanding my knowledge of the world. New people are very easy to meet at Grinnell, and you can always count on someone to give you a different perspective on your world view.
A highlight of being a student at Grinnell: Self-gov. The principles behind this ideology give responsibility and trust to each individual in the Grinnell population, while simultaneously reminding them that their actions do have consequences and affect the entire community. This has definitely taught me to be more conscientious and respectful, and is helping me mature as a person.
Also, this may sound silly, but in my previous experiences at schools and colleges I’ve noticed that the community is usually segregated - whether by class year or by activities. However, this is definitely NOT the case at Grinnell. There is such a great sense of inclusivity here and I’m constantly reminded that we’re all part of one large and supportive community.
My favorite class at Grinnell (so far): My favorite class so far is Introduction to Economics. I originally took it because a friend of mine once said Econ was way too tough for me to handle! I'm really interested in taking some writing and art history classes in the future as well.
Three words that describe ‘my’ Grinnell: It's hard to describe such an important place in just three words, but to me, Grinnell is inclusive, understanding, and trusting.
My advice to new or aspiring Grinnellians: Don't worry about finding friends here at Grinnell. There will always be someone you can talk to, and always somewhere you can fit in. The support system for international students is GREAT, and if you ever have a problem, they'll help you out.
