Counseling director explores college in Middle East
Every year, some of the world’s most globally and culturally aware students flock to a uniquely inclusive university in the Middle East in order to receive a higher education. This past October, Westfield’s counseling director, Ms. Maureen Mazzarese, traveled to the United Arab Emirates for five days—with 30 other counselors from all over the world—to get a taste of the educational experience of NYU Abu Dhabi.
The majority of Mazzarese’s time was spent on campus where she toured facilities, listened to speakers who helped found the school, and met with students. One of Mazzarese’s most memorable interactions included two roommates.
“I remember talking to two students—one from Pakistan and one from India,” she said. “Pakistan and India are in war with each other, yet these two women are roommates and working hard to sort through and understand their different life experiences in a way that will enable them to live together in a community.”
NYU Abu Dhabi houses a diverse group of students of differing cultures, with the understanding that students will respect each and every one of them. For example, there are female-only dorming options for Muslim students. Mazzarese said, “No man can ever enter enter that dorming hall so as to respect Muslim students who want the freedom to wear their pajamas which they wouldn’t be allowed to do with a man in the building.”
Though respect seems like a simple pursuit, students are faced with the challenge of conveying their opinions in a respectful way. “In America we embrace freedom of the press and we encourage students to voice a different opinion,” said Mazzarese. “While they do that in Abu Dhabi as well, people also understand that everything must be done in a respectful way.”
After five days of waking up to the beautiful sound of the Muslims call to prayer, Mazzarese returned back to WHS to reflect on her experiences in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. She thought about her past students for whom she thought this would be a really good experience.
“NYU Abu Dhabi is for a very particular type of student,” said Mazzarese. “They must have an adventurous spirit and be interested in the fact that they will not be in the majority considering that only 15 percent of the student body is made up of Americans.”
Students at NYU Abu Dhabi spend a great deal of their time learning about different ways of being and thinking whether they are an art, pre-law or science major. According to Mazzarese, “If you’re interested in seeing the world, NYU Abu Dhabi is worth a consideration.”
“I remember talking to two students—one from Pakistan and one from India,” she said. “Pakistan and India are in war with each other, yet these two women are roommates and working hard to sort through and understand their different life experiences in a way that will enable them to live together in a community.”
NYU Abu Dhabi houses a diverse group of students of differing cultures, with the understanding that students will respect each and every one of them. For example, there are female-only dorming options for Muslim students. Mazzarese said, “No man can ever enter enter that dorming hall so as to respect Muslim students who want the freedom to wear their pajamas which they wouldn’t be allowed to do with a man in the building.”
Though respect seems like a simple pursuit, students are faced with the challenge of conveying their opinions in a respectful way. “In America we embrace freedom of the press and we encourage students to voice a different opinion,” said Mazzarese. “While they do that in Abu Dhabi as well, people also understand that everything must be done in a respectful way.”
After five days of waking up to the beautiful sound of the Muslims call to prayer, Mazzarese returned back to WHS to reflect on her experiences in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. She thought about her past students for whom she thought this would be a really good experience.
“NYU Abu Dhabi is for a very particular type of student,” said Mazzarese. “They must have an adventurous spirit and be interested in the fact that they will not be in the majority considering that only 15 percent of the student body is made up of Americans.”
Students at NYU Abu Dhabi spend a great deal of their time learning about different ways of being and thinking whether they are an art, pre-law or science major. According to Mazzarese, “If you’re interested in seeing the world, NYU Abu Dhabi is worth a consideration.”
