Djeneba Kebe's Experience at NYU Abu Dhabi

Q: What is one thing you wish more Nursing students knew about Abu Dhabi as a study away site? 

I wish more nursing students knew about all the events that the study away programs host for nursing-specific students here in Abu Dhabi. I've had the opportunity to visit hospitals and see what type of medical advances are happening here that may be different from New York. I've also had the opportunity to join many workshops to meet with experts in the healthcare field, and I've definitely been able to pick up helpful information that isn't necessarily taught or brought up in nursing courses. Plus, these workshops have given me direct access to internships, shadowing opportunities, and a great way to meet and network with other students interested in similar majors.  

Q: In what ways has studying abroad prepared you for the workplace or grad school? 

When I first arrived in Abu Dhabi, I had to adjust before I could get a hang of my class schedules, get around campus, and solidify a personal schedule for myself to balance school, travel, and social life. So I feel like this kind of mimics the adaptations I'm going to have to go through when I transition from undergrad to grad, or from undergrad straight into the workplace, if I choose to do that. It has definitely taught me a lot about myself, what I am independently capable of, how far I can push myself to do things out of my comfort zone, but also how well I collaborate in group environments and settings (since this is more emphasized in the classes i've been taking here compared to the classes i've taken in NY so far). As a nursing student, I feel like this is very important for me to know about myself because in the medical field, there is a good balance between working independently and in groups, so I'm now aware of my weak points and can continue to improve them before actually getting to the work field. 

Q: What's been your most unexpected yet amazing experience in Abu Dhabi so far? 

My most unexpected yet amazing experience has to be the entire month of Ramadan. It was so nice to be able to observe Ramadan in a Muslim country. I loved seeing even non-Muslims fasting with their muslim friends. It just made it easier to get through the month, knowing that almost everyone else around me was also fasting, whereas in New York, it's the other way around. It made the community on campus feel even more intimate since everyone was eating at the same time, you would run into everyone at the dining halls during iftar or suhoor, so it was very nice to experience that on a campus-wide level. 

Q: Why did you choose to study abroad at NYUAD? 
As a nursing student, I only get one semester to study away, so I wanted to get the most out of my semester away. In New York, there is a lot of promotion for Abu Dhabi that other study away locations don’t get, so even before coming, I was seeing all the posts about the trips and events hosted for study away students, and that got me excited to come here. Also, the fact that NYUAD has an actual campus made me want to come here even more. In NY, there isn't really a campus, so I wanted to get the experience of college on an actual campus, and it's safe to say I'm definitely satisfied now.

Q: What has your experience been staying involved on campus? 

I don't really do much on campus. I haven't joined any clubs or sports teams, but because there is an actual campus here I feel like it's easier for me to run into familiar faces more often, hang out with friends between and after classes, and overall it's just easier to form a community here and stay up to date on campus events because of how much smaller and intimate the campus is compared to New York.