Tamara Mashnouk

My time at NYU Abu Dhabi has allowed me to grow in ways that I don’t think any other institution could have provided, largely due to the semester I spent in New York City. Having lived my entire life in Abu Dhabi, moving across the world was a daunting experience, but I gained a strong sense of independence and community that I wouldn’t trade for anything. 

Living alone in an entirely new country, I had to learn to enjoy my own company just as much as I enjoyed networking and meeting new people. My weekend morning walks through Manhattan became my way of learning the ins and outs of the city, while also pushing myself out of my comfort zone and gaining the confidence to navigate life on my own. I ended up falling in love with the city and everything it has to offer — so much so that I returned a year later on vacation. Had I not had this experience, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to apply to graduate school abroad. 

Now, I find myself on my way to London for my Master’s degree, a familiar yet completely different challenge. Were it not for the time I spent at NYUAD and, subsequently, NYU in New York, I don’t think I would have had the space to grow in the ways I have over the last four years.