Joanna Kumendong
When asked about my time at NYU Abu Dhabi, my favorite answer is: everything has changed, and yet nothing at all! I arrived eager to explore and transform, not realizing that the most profound journey would be my journey inward.
The best advice I have received along the way was, 'Do not be afraid to explore, and it’s okay if where you land is where you started.'
My journey across countries and communities has complemented my inward exploration. In moments of quiet reflection - a phone-free weekend in the desert on Belonging for Spiritual Seekers, during a J-Term in Nepal titled Being Here - I wrestled with the big questions about who I am and why we are here. Yet I often found reflective moments in campus life, through D2 meals, and conversations over chai.
A highlight of my time has been within the student support group, REACH. REACH has evolved with the needs of our community, and is a space for belonging and care. Like fractals, our individual stories weave into something greater.
Beyond NYUAD, I carry these questions with me — not to seek answers, but to hold them with curiosity and care. Growth can also be a return to what we knew all along, but with deeper understanding. The outward journey continues, unfolding in ways yet to be imagined.