Faces of Midland: Grace Biju
Faces of Midland is a collaborative storytelling project celebrating the vibrant lives of those who live, work, and thrive in Midland.
Grace Biju – finding her way in a diverse world.
By Trisha Fenby
Photo by Renee’ Deckrow, Captured Studio
The teddy bear dressed as a ladybug, gifted to Grace Biju by her brother’s speech therapist, has stayed with her for years, a small reminder of where her passion first began. Grace’s brother, Adit, has autism. When they were very young, Grace tagged along to therapies, tutoring sessions, and doctor’s visits as their parents worked tirelessly to help Adit gain the skills needed to succeed. Grace remembers the speech therapist fondly.
“I feel like she instilled my love of reading” Grace said, “And she taught me how to play with my brother.”
Today, Grace is in her Junior year at Central Michigan University, where she studies communication science and disorders, with minors in ASL and disability studies. Her desire to pursue this career is a direct result of the care and compassion Adit’s speech therapist showed to her brother, and her family. Through college, Grace’s academic work allows her to merge her lived experience with professional training, strengthening her commitment to accessible communication.
Grace’s parents were born in India, they came to America to pursue careers, and Grace and Adit were born here. Growing up, Grace explains, she experienced bullying and felt “othered”
When she was invited to a friend’s house, she could see the look of surprise on the parent’s face. Because her name is very generic, and “white”, as Grace explains, parents were not expecting a person of color. These experiences were hurtful, shaping how Grace learned about belonging, identity, and the impact exclusion has on a person’s life.
Her parents remained open-minded. They emphasized education and independence. Their strong support and advocacy for Adit provided a positive model for Grace.
Even with the “othering” she experienced, Grace found her way to theater. Her fondness for singing and acting started at a very young age. With a bit of bravery, she decided to try out for a play in middle school and found her community. Theater was the first place where Grace felt seen, where her presence was celebrated. The directors she had through her theater experience helped her realize that her skin color could be an asset rather than something that held her back during auditions. She is very grateful for the opportunities they provided, and the confidence she gained from their leadership.
Theater also opened the door to meaningful friendships, including one of her best friends, Jo. Their bond formed quickly, Jo was another woman of color that understood and validated the experiences and challenges that Grace had faced. That shared identity made their friendship deeply meaningful, and it became a part of Grace’s journey in the theatre community.
Her resilience led to a strong portfolio. Recently, she combined her advocacy, her education, and her passion for theater into a capstone project for her summer internship with The Breaking Bread Village. This project, a community workshop using theater techniques to help improve expressive tone in people with disabilities, was well received.
As Grace returns to her studies, she reflects on the legacy of advocacy she learned at home and that she continues to practice today.