When my peers and I bid farewell during the last night of candidate weekend, exclaiming “See you in August!” we did not mean to meet virtually, unless one of us was secretly psychic. On the first sunny morning of Marhaba, I found myself between the same four walls where I attended my high school graduation. Even though I was excited, the situation was far from ideal. But making the most out of imperfect experiences had gradually become one of my strong suits while talking over Zoom throughout the year. The next chapter of my story was open right in front of me, blank, and it was now the time to put pen to paper.

On Aug. 29, the annual Marhaba event kicked off for the Class of 2024, welcoming NYU Abu Dhabi’s largest class yet with just under 500 students. Unique circumstances prompted a change in the style of the week-long orientation, rendering it the first ever virtual Marhaba in the history of NYUAD. The event was a mix of mandatory informative webinars, optional social events and insightful workshops.

Realizing that this year was exceptionally challenging, the Marhaba committee added daily First Year Dialogue sessions to our schedules, ensuring that we had enough time to debrief on our journey through Marhaba. To address the additional hurdle of students being spread across the globe, virtual Marhaba was split into two tracks, one in the morning and one in the evening. For Addie Mae Villas, Class of 2024, who tuned in from Austin, Texas, in a time zone nine hours behind Abu Dhabi, the tracks definitely made her experience easier. “It was nice not having to do it in the middle of the night,” she remarked gratefully.

The programming included numerous sessions centered around diversity, equity and inclusion. These were themes that Sara Amjad, Assistant Director for Student Activities and First Year Experience, indicated as some of the major focuses of Marhaba. Amjad stressed that planning for a virtual Marhaba and trying to do it differently while preserving its essence posed a creative challenge.

“The challenge this year was that normally, First Year Experience staff and the student leaders involved would get a break,” shared Amjad. “This year we went with a five-part orientation model whereby we started our onboarding in mid-June.”

Another aspect Amjad was determined to include virtually was the excitement of Marhaba. The last thing any of us imagined when visualizing Marhaba was having a Club Penguin Party. But, in true virtual essence, the website shut down for maintenance the night before the event. Tori Mondello, Class of 2022 and member of the Marhaba committee, shared a humorous anecdote about tweeting “the Club Penguin people” the day before the party, asking them if they were going to fix their website in time. “They never replied, of course,” recounted Mondello. “But I felt, in that moment, this is my job, this is my life now.”

One of the Marhaba favorites was Rooftop Rhythms, where first-year students showcased their talent in a series of original spoken word and musical performances.

“With a live performance you can see the audience and you can almost engage with the audience in the present,” explained Aya Adib, Class of 2024 and performer of spoken word in both Rooftop Rhythms and the closing talent show. “Whereas through Zoom, oftentimes you can just see yourself, so there isn’t that audience engagement to you.” She went on to clarify that, on the flip side, performing to a screen could be less overwhelming than doing so in person.

For one first-year student, Joe Mrad, virtual Marhaba marked the first time he left his family and his home country of Lebanon, which is in a vulnerable state. Even though Mrad’s transition to a new country was challenging, FYD and more broadly, Marhaba, certainly eased it. “I do consider Marhaba a common ground between my family and university in terms of being a support system,” Mrad described.

As far as Zoom fatigue is concerned, Ana Maria Radu, Class of 2023 and member of the Marhaba Committee, recalled casual Zoom sessions being a mental antiseptic. “The fact that we were together and we were joking and planning everything together, this helped a lot,” Radu stated.

The architects of Marhaba shared the general sentiment that the Class of 2024 is passionate, vocal and exceptional in the ways we expressed our gratitude. “I mean, you guys are really cute. You guys really showed up and showed out,” noted Waad Abrahim, Class of 2022, in reference to an appreciation video produced by the Class of 2024.

Roman Kohut, Student Life Coordinator at NYUAD, responsible for the more logistical aspects of Marhaba, stated: “I don’t remember having a class that came together so well and expressed so much gratitude.”

When the Class of 2024 makes it to campus in the Spring semester — and I say this with crossed fingers — Marhaba will include an in-person component of ideally two to five days to complement its virtual counterpart. “There will be some informative sessions, mainly because you have to learn some things about public safety,” explained Mondello. “It won’t be as heavy as the virtual Marhaba was with the webinars and all that. We’re hoping to focus it more on social events and getting you off campus, getting you with each other.”

To say that virtual Marhaba added fuel to the fire that is my anticipation for round two of Marhaba would be an understatement. Until then, I am left with memories of breakout rooms, raging chat boxes and countless other meaningful encounters with a group I am so proud to belong to: the phenomenal Class of 2024.