Page 21 - ADU Voice Volume 4 Issue 1

FALL 2024 • • • 21
21
Abu Dhabi University

NOSTALIGIA

When I read the topic of ‘Nostalgia’,
I immediately felt a longing for the
past - the pre-Covid days in the UAE.
The days of a busy campus, filled
with the vibrant energy of students
hurrying to classes, the lively chatter
in the cafeteria, and the shared
excitement before an event or get-
together at ADU - these memories
bring a pang of longing for a time
when life felt simpler and more
carefree. The pre-Covid university
experience was made up of shared
experiences, from group projects and
study sessions to cultural events and
sporting competitions. Those were
the days when we could gather freely,
exchange ideas without hesitation,
and forge friendships that would last
a lifetime.

The world felt more open, and the
possibilities seemed endless.
Although we have all had adapt to
the new normal, a part of me still
yearns for those pre-Covid days, a
time when the UAE's spirit of
community and connection thrived
on campus and all over the UAE. To
ADU students, I would say: cherish
the memories of those carefree days,
because they shaped you into who
you are today. While the world has
changed, the spirit of community and
the pursuit of knowledge remain
constant. Embrace the new
opportunities that arise, continue to
connect with others, and never stop
learning and growing. Education and
the friendships you make at ADU
will always enrich your life now and
in the future! ▶
Dr. Collette Anne Foster