Helen Grahe '26 Recruiting Profile

I’m Helen Grahe, a Junior (Class of 2026) at the British International School of Chicago, South Loop. Field hockey has been a lifelong passion of mine! Throughout my journey of moving from Japan to Germany, Sweden, and now Chicago, I’ve had to adapt to various school systems, cultures, and languages, which has made me resilient, strong, and quick to adjust to new environments.

I started field hockey at the age of 4 at HTC Stuttgart, and it instantly became my favorite sport. When I moved to Stockholm, field hockey wasn’t available, but I didn’t let that stop me. I learned how to ice skate and joined the Stockholm Djurgården Ice Hockey Team, where I quickly progressed to the top team thanks to my hockey IQ and openness to feedback. My coaches consistently credit my stick skills, explosiveness, and coachability.

Since I came to the U.S. in 2021 I have been playing for the Windy City Field Hockey Club. Where I am on the travel team for outdoor and indoor, currently on the U19 Team. Although my school doesn’t offer field hockey, I remain in the IB Diploma program because I believe in challenging myself academically. I take Higher Level: Global Politics, English, and Engineering. I am also the Captain of the Varsity Tennis Team, and compete on the Varsity Soccer Team.

I’m passionate about studying international business because I thrive in diverse cultural settings and love building connections across borders. My international background and a business (https://grahe.de/chicago101) I’ve started, where I help international students transition to life in Chicago equips me with great skills to transition easily and support others who may be transitioning the first time.