<p><i>This article was originally published on October 1, 2024</i></p> <p><span class="p-body">As a first semester student in the MS in Professional Writing (MSPW) program at NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS), I’m excited to have the opportunity to share my orientation week experiences. My first taste of NYU took me through the streets of NYC and the wonders of cyberspace! When I first arrived at the NYU SPS building, I was excited, but uncertain. Orientation leaders, like Ekta Khurana (shown in image below), took me by the hand and launched me straight into NYC’s food scene and vibrant city life. I learned that spicy salmon rice balls are a definite yes, and that GRAD scavenger hunts require a lot of running.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">What I was most struck by though was how cosmopolitan NYU is! It’s basically the world in a nutshell. I met people from China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and more. However, it wasn’t until MSPW’s virtual program-level orientation that I really understood NYU’s reach.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">During this online orientation, new students joined in from Japan, Texas, Connecticut, upstate New York, and more. We came together as a community excited to learn and start on our path to becoming professional writers! The best part is that NYU created this welcoming space of connection without us even having to leave the comfort of our homes.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">As Dean Angie Kamath said during the Dean’s Welcome (shown in image below), NYU is a school of optimists. No matter where we come from or if we plan to study online or on-campus, we are all connected by our dreams; and the ambition and courage it took for us to try to make them a reality. I am proud to be a part of NYU’s MS in Professional Writing program, and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring! </span></p>

<p><span class="p-body"><i>Monique Dabdoub (MS in Professional Writing, Class of 2026) resides in Norwich, Connecticut. A passionate reader and writer who cares deeply about diversity and inclusion, Monique dreams of writing fantasy novels that center bisexual main characters and other writing projects that explore her Honduran heritage</i>.</span></p>