NYU Abu Dhabi is changing. We’re getting bigger and more diverse and it's all happening much faster. While this is great and has its advantages, it also comes with its own set of problems. Mainly, with so much being given to us when we come to NYUAD, the habit of normalizing the unique opportunity of studying here has become the norm. Even after we’re given something so special, we still find flaws and become blind to the big picture. I’m talking about entitlement.

Imagine a place where you are safe and healthy. A place where you can interact with amazing people from all over the world. Where you are challenged and encouraged to do great things. Where you are accepted for who you are. Do we not already live in such a place? Isn't that NYUAD? Think of life on Saadiyat in terms of Maslow's psychological theory of the hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, there are five increasingly complex needs that motivate humans: biological needs, safety needs, love and belongingness needs, esteem needs and self-actualization needs. I would argue that life here fulfills the first four at the very least. In the end, no matter how we look at it, we have an unbelievable experience at university.

Now, we cannot simply ignore the fact that despite all that we’re given at NYUAD, sometimes we forget that we’re actually being given a privilege and not an undeniable right. We get caught up in a cyclone of things to do and our vision narrows. We take things for granted and start complaining. For instance, last year, we had so many complaints about the reductions in funding which led to the decrease in weekly meal swipes — among other things — that the term budget cuts became a campus joke, even turning into a hashtag. We had a water crisis that led to a flood of complaints, complaints about the Marketplace timings and even a barrage of jabs and complaints directed towards the 2015-16 student representative of the Dining Committee, Firas Ashraf, despite all the effort he put into creating a better dining hall experience.

From an outsider's perspective, if the question, Are NYUAD students entitled? were asked while these events were occurring, how on earth would any of us have been able to say no?

While we could be harshly judged for complaining about nothing and acting entitled, there is a marked difference between pointless complaints and constructive feedback. We as a community are in a tight situation, but a balance can and should be found. Whether it’s talking to Student Government or voicing your opinion in The Gazelle, there are ways to see certain changes implemented for the good of the community.

Entitlement might be something we cannot escape, but we should be more aware of it. There are going to be moments when we forget, when we think the world owes us even more. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to attend NYUAD, and we did work hard to be here, but remember that opportunity does not mean birthright. Look up from your computer or mobile phone screens, take in everything and think about what you'd like to do for this community. We all know it's done more than enough for you.