Grady Camp (‘25) first heard about NEIA in February 2021 under unique circumstances. “I have a different view than most people here in that my father was looking for a job, and this school came up,” Grady shared. “Then he got the job for this school. Then I was like, I should go to this school. Here we are.” Their father’s excitement played a role in their decision. “He was very excited, yeah.”
Starting at a new school came with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. “I think just anxiety because it was so many new people,” Grady admitted. Their introduction to NEIA was anything but ordinary. “Our first day of school was literally a trip to sleep on the ground,” they recalled, referring to the Kroka experience. The trip was an immediate challenge. “They had us take our shoes and socks off. That wasn’t a very good way to start. It set the mood. Negative direction.”
Despite the initial discomfort, connections slowly began forming. “When you left Kroka, did you feel like you knew people better?” Grady was asked. Grady explained they were slow to make connections at first, saying, “At the beginning, I just followed the people who were in my Kroka group.” As time went on, Grady began to find their people in the NEIA community, people they are still friends with today.
NEIA’s first year was filled with unique experiences. “For all of year one, we did gratitude for all our meals,” Grady recalled. “During lunch, we’d be like, ‘Thank you for the food. Thank you for something else. Thank you for the chef.’ That was a very NEIA thing for a while.”
As the school evolved, so did Grady’s relationships. “Every year, I feel like I’m making better friends than before. I’m figuring out, “Oh, I feel like this person gets me better, and I relate to them more.”
Academically, NEIA’s approach was different from traditional schools. “We started out with the competencies which were designed by my dad, and it was just that. I remember the first report we got where we were like, ‘What’s my grade? What’s my grade?’ I thought it was helpful. You got how you’re doing on the competencies and then a little note. I think the notes from the first year were very good.” Despite its evolution, the competency system still remains along with NEIA’s integrated and unique approach to teaching.
Grady appreciated NEIA’s early emphasis on inclusivity and student input. “I think the first year was so much more on the whole inclusivity, get to know people thing. We were so culturally informed in year one. A holiday could pass that you may not know about, and kids were telling the school about it. It was really cool. We learned about so much culture and stuff from that.” NEIA to do this day continues to put students at the center of what we do.
Reflecting on their experience, Grady noted, “Every year, I feel like I’m making better friends than before.” Their journey at NEIA has been one of growth, challenge, and discovery, highlighting the school’s unique and evolving environment. As Grady approaches graduation, they have found a group of friends and community where they feel NEIA’s pillar of belonging and togetherness. Their story is a reminder that at NEIA, students are not just part of a school—they are part of a family.
