Currently: Grigor is in Shanghai, China, where he’s majoring in finance and business in the first part of a dual-degree program with NYU University. His next stop is two years studying at NYU’s New York City campus. 

A reason to study in Israel: When he thought about studying in Israel, Grigor talked about how intrigued he was to go to a country and meet a people who had so much in common with his homeland, Armenia. His country experienced a genocide during World War I and the Jews experienced the Holocaust during World War II. He was intrigued to figure out how, after experiencing such an incredibly sad and devastating event, Israel grew so much, while Armenia did not. His drive to help his country is what motivates him to understand Israel’s achievements and what Armenia can learn from it to achieve more. 

The GHIS impact: This dedicated student found the writing assignments and regular discussions, in class and out, were instrumental in preparing him to study at an international university. He says that having a prestigious IB diploma was also helpful when applying to universities, especially American ones. 

Especially important for him were the Global Politics course and the ongoing lessons in conflict resolution, which helped him see that even when people are in a conflict, there are similarities amidst the differences. Our students live this in the shared society that they create on campus. Grigor notes that the environment “helped them get to know each other and because of that, they could always find common ground, and their strong friendships were the result.”

The international environment: Grigor credits his two years at GHIS, where he was in a completely new environment, where he met people from all over the world, to be the impetus for him to grow in ways he wouldn’t have otherwise. He says that the cultural diversity and the different mindsets that people came with made it so that they always had a lot to talk about and they were always learning from each other. 

Summing up 2 years at GHIS: “Fun, educational, adventurous, and full of new things: connections, friends, and experiences!” He credits the experience with both personal and academic growth. He is “grateful for the many opportunities that came during those two years and the doors that the experience opened for me, even after graduating from GHIS.” 

Feeling at home with his host family: Grigor (like so many of his GHIS peers) found his host family became like his real family in Israel. They made him feel at home on his weekend and holiday visits, taking him hiking and exploring all over the country which enhanced his GHIS experience and time in Israel.

Plans for the future: Grigor wants to focus on either investment banking or financial management, and perhaps get an MBA before or after his compulsory military service. He plans to eventually return to Armenia where he can apply the knowledge and wisdom that he has gained through his international experiences.