From Poland to Rural Virginia

Tucked into the rolling hills of southern Virginia, Chatham Hall feels worlds away from the bustle of global capitals. And yet, step inside its classrooms, dorms, and athletic fields, and you’ll hear stories shaped by continents apart; stories like those of Toni L. '26, Ala B. '26, and Emi K. '27, three students from Poland who now call Chatham Hall home. Their journeys to this small town reflect one of Chatham Hall’s most defining strengths: a global community rooted in connection, curiosity, and belonging.

Toni has been in the United States for four years. Ala arrived just over a year ago. Emi is the newest; she first came to the United States this past August through the ASSIST program. What surprised Emi most wasn’t the distance from home, but the warmth she found here. “Everyone is very welcoming,” she says. “That made me feel like I belong here.”

At Chatham Hall, students come from 16 states and 11 countries, with international students making up 21 percent of the student body. But for Emi, the most powerful connection isn’t nationality, it’s shared experience. “Everyone here has the same kind of path,” Emi explains. “We’re all away from our families, in a boarding school. In some way, it connects us. Even if we don’t talk all the time, we understand each other because we’re going through the same things.” Ala agrees. Being surrounded by students from around the world, she says, has expanded her worldview.

Ask the girls what matters most at Chatham Hall, and their answers are grounded in tradition and opportunity. Toni and Ala light up when they talk about athletics. Ala says, “I love that I get opportunities to play so many different sports here. And the new gym is amazing.” Toni also loves the Old Girl/New Girl tradition. “[My Old Girl] and I got really close,” she recalls. “She explained where I had classes and everything. It really helped at the beginning of the year.” Emi treasures the Chapel Talks. “When the Old Girls share their experiences,” she says, “I love listening to what they’ve been through.” These moments, mentorship, movement, and reflection, are what turn a school into a home.

Studying in the U.S. has reshaped all three girls’ visions for the future. Toni plans to attend college in the United States, majoring in business administration with a minor in psychology, while continuing her basketball career. Ala, who has already completed her Polish exams, dreams of studying economics and sports management, and of playing basketball at the collegiate level. Both hope to earn full scholarships and eventually return to Europe. Emi’s path looks different, and she’s confident in that. While she plans to return to Europe for university, she says her experience at Chatham Hall has transformed her view of learning. “School is not a chore anymore,” she says. She dreams of spending time as an au pair in Paris, backpacking, studying in a warm country, and building a life she loves. What unites them is gratitude and inspiration drawn from family. All three speak movingly about their parents, strong, resilient, and endlessly supportive. “They gave me the opportunity to study here,” Emi says. “I’m forever grateful.”

Between Student Life League, athletics, clubs, and service, the girls are deeply woven into campus life. But when asked to sum up their experience, Ala says it simply: “I’m grateful for such a great opportunity.” She adds, “I like Chatham Hall. I feel at home.” From Poland to Chatham, from uncertainty to confidence, Emi, Toni, and Ala embody what it means to learn across cultures and to discover that home can be found far from where you began.