Raya Tabassum

It all began right here, at NYU Abu Dhabi, in 2022, between late-night study sessions in Baraha and meetups at Marketplace for two slices of buffalo pizza. From navigating deadlines together to exploring Abu Dhabi’s hidden spots, we quickly became inseparable. Our campus isn't just where we earn our degrees — it's the heart of our shared story, where our hearts became a living passport, stamped with laughter, courage, and dreams shared beneath countless skies.

Our love grew with every adventure, from strolling the romantic streets of Paris to getting lost together amidst Amsterdam’s canals and dancing our worries away in Berlin. We filled our orange falls with dreams in New York, beach waves in Miami, and innocent laughter at Disneyland. Beside the pyramids of Giza, along the colorful streets of Istanbul, through Prague's fairytale charm, and Serbia's hidden alleys, we found pieces of ourselves in every corner of the world — while studying away together, or in some J-term classes.

In 2023, amidst these unforgettable travels, he asked me the most important question, promising forever. As we graduate together in 2025, preparing to step into the world as husband and wife, I'm reminded how our greatest adventure was simply finding each other, right here at NYUAD. Now, as we stand at the edge of graduation, ready to step forward, I realize: our greatest journey began not with a plane ticket, but with the quiet moment he smiled at me on our campus, changing my world forever.