Naja Broberg, from Randers, Denmark, is Grand Center Arts Academy’s first transfer student. Broberg came to St. Louis with an organization called the Council for Educational Travel, USA (CETUSA), and has been attending GCAA since October of 2015.

Broberg decided to become a transfer student after realizing her appreciation for travel.

“I’ve always liked traveling, so it was an ideal opportunity for me,” said Broberg.

CETUSA was the organization that found Broberg’s host family here in St. Louis and arranged her transfer. According to their website, “CETUSA’s High School Program allows international students to spend a semester or full academic year in America attending a public high school and living as an American teenager.”

Broberg says she encourages other students who are considering it to become transfer students as well.  

“It’s really fun, it’s a once in a lifetime experience. And you become more independent, you mature a lot, you meet more people and – it’s just an amazing experience,” said Broberg. “I really enjoy learning about the American culture, and I feel like coming here has really opened my eyes to how different the people are here, and I met a lot of really interesting and nice people coming here.”

Lisa Kaczmarczyk, high school principal, sees the benefits to having a student from another country in GCAA.

“She gives a perspective of her homeland and what school is like and what expectations are like there,” she said. “We [the school] were really excited. We were happy to do this.”

Broberg says she has enjoyed the diversity and creative aspect of GCAA.

“I like the different people here. And I like that I can explore more of my creative sides. So it’s very different and very fun for me to try this as opposed to what I’m used to,” she said.

According to Kaczmarczyk, introducing a new culture into the school the way Broberg did does not provide much of a shock to students, given the existing diversity and acceptance.

“We are already a very diverse school community, so there was nothing shocking. I mean, we are all very accepting of each other and our differences, our similarities, so I think that it was just normal,” she said. “We just don’t look at people differently here.”

As the year comes to a close, Broberg will be returning to Denmark on June 5th.