NYU’s Class of 2024 Is Ready for Their Next Adventure (Part 1) (2024)

As one academic year ends and another begins, NYU’s Class of 2024 has graduated–moving on to whatever comes next. Now, they’re traveling to new places, tackling new challenges, and embracing new opportunities. Recently, Meet NYU caught up with graduates from different schools to discuss their NYU journeys and what lies ahead. In part one of this two-part feature, they’re sharing their plans and hopes for the future. Stay tuned for part two, where they’ll reflect on their NYU experience and share their advice and insights.

A recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship, NYU Abu Dhabi graduate Sara Alnajjar is poised to begin two master’s degree programs at the University of Oxford. One is in Global Governance and Diplomacy, and the other is in Criminology and Criminal Justice. After interning at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United Kingdom, she gained an appreciation for the power of diplomacy. As a result she developed “a renewed sense of purpose in pursuing a career dedicated to promoting peace and understanding in our interconnected world.” She adds, “While I may be bidding farewell to NYU Abu Dhabi, I know that the experiences and relationships I have formed here will continue to shape and inspire me for years to come.”

Ece Coşar, aGlobal Liberal Studies major, spent her NYU career exploring as many paths as possible. First, they spent a year away at NYU Madrid. Then, she added three minors: the Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology; Spanish; and Studio Art. Now, the Class of 2024 member and Istanbul native says, “I am eager to get a foot in the media and entertainment industry. I feel the environment will provide a balance between the critical and the creative. That’s so crucial to me.” But wherever they end up, Ece wants to be a force for change. “My greatest wish is to combine all these moving parts in my career. I want to implement the full range of my diverse skill set to make a difference,” she says.

During her four years at NYU, Dramatic Writing major Samantha Whitley stayed busy. She double-minored in Computer Science and Integrated Design and Media while working as an NYU Admissions Ambassador. What’s more, she interned at ABC News, The View, and the Walt Disney Company, among others. “To this day, I still can’t believe I interned at Disney!” she says. “But I’m incredibly grateful that I did.” Up next? She’s headed to NBCUniversal to participate in their esteemed East Coast Page Program. There, she’ll gain unparalleled exposure to the media industry and prepare for the next stage in her career.

You won’t find Madihah Dumashie’s future job on any list, and a Google search won’t turn up any results. That’s because the College of Arts and Science graduate is blazing a new path forward. As a Chemistry and Public Policy double major, her dream is to become a lawyer and pediatric doctor. Then, she’ll work at the intersection of health care, law, and housing policy to advocate for children and youth. Growing up, Madihah moved around a lot, experiencing houselessness and housing insecurity. “I am no stranger to adversity and challenges,” she says. “I’ve navigated the systems in place, and from those experiences, I see the changes that need to be made. All children are vulnerable, and my driving force is to make sure they are all nurtured, supported, and safe. There are many ways to make that happen, and it’s up to all of us to figure it out.”

When Yi Lan Zhang, Class of 2024, decided to attend the Rory Meyers College of Nursing, she couldn’t wait to make a difference in people’s lives—and in the healthcare industry. “We are the advocates that connect our patients with the right resources,” she explains. As the Brooklyn native looks to the future, she hopes to work as a nurse in labor and delivery, pediatrics, or oncology. She recalls a rotation at the labor and delivery unit when she needed to scrub into an emergency C-section. “When the baby was born and wrapped warmly in her fresh pastel blanket, I helped the new family take their first picture together,” she recalls. “Ever since that clinical experience, I feel like I am in the right place. I chose the best career in the world.”