Maryam Alshehhi
Producing Work, Staying Healthy, and Developing New Habits
By Malak Abdel-Ghaffar
Maryam Alshehhi, a rising junior studying literature and creative writing and political science, always likes to seek experiences that challenge her. After switching universities to study at NYUAD after her first year, Alshehhi knew she had made the right decision by coming to a liberal arts institution.
After a year and a half of online university, Alshehhi wanted to take the summer as an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. “There are so many hidden gems on Handshake, and that’s where I found my summer internship at TwoFour54,” said Alshehhi. Even though Alshehhi never thought she would intern or work in the media sector, the posting from TwoFour54, with a highly personalized job description, grabbed her attention. Later in the interview process, Alshehhi was paired with the independent film production company, Tent Pictures Productions, which turned out to be a perfect match for her.
At Tent Pictures Productions, Alshehhi took the lead on creating a book that documents the making and the process of a movie being produced in the company. The movie, titled Cats Away, aims to document the old Abu Dhabi through street cats. Through talking to cast members, observing the movie director, and analyzing movie scenes, Alshehhi will be creating one of the first, if not the first, “making of” books in the UAE.
In addition to my work, I like to explore different things that are beyond my comfort zone. I’m studying French, I go to the gym every day, I go to yoga classes, to museums, and explore Abu Dhabi.
Given the independent nature of her work, Alshehhi has learned to organize her schedule to accomplish her tasks and meet her personal goals. She found it extremely helpful to create to-do and task lists to stay on top of her work. By the end of her internship, Alshehhi would have written a full “making-of” book in English and Arabic, learned quite a bit of French, and maintained a healthy lifestyle, all of which are huge personal and professional accomplishments.
The Career Development Center at NYU Abu Dhabi works with students to help improve interpersonal skills, find internship and job opportunities, and prepare for graduate school.