Over the past days, the situation in the Middle East brought the reality of war much closer than I had ever experienced before. Iran launched missiles and drones toward the UAE, and for many nights we heard constant alerts, fighter jets above us, and explosions from the air defense system intercepting attacks. It didn’t matter whether we were sleeping, studying, eating, or talking with friends; the sounds were always there.
And even though what we heard were the sounds of protection, not destruction, it was still terrifying. When you don’t know whether the next missile might get through, when you don’t know how the situation might escalate, it becomes hard to focus on anything else. The uncertainty is the hardest part.
That is why I feel deep gratitude toward the UAE. For 11 days, its defense systems has been watching the sky every single minute, intercepting nearly everything that entered its airspace and protecting millions of lives. Thinking about what could have happened if those missiles and drones had actually landed on UAE lands is something I didn’t have to witness, thanks to the UAE🇦🇪. Because of that protection, we were able to continue living in relative safety.
I am also incredibly grateful to NYU Abu Dhabi. In such an unpredictable situation, the university did everything it could to keep students as safe as possible. Maybe the university overprotected us at many times, but I understand them. They didn’t want to risk anything. Moving classes online, encouraging us to stay indoors, and giving us the flexibility to make the decisions that felt safest. In my case, I returned home to Uzbekistan and will continue my studies and research from here.
But more than anything, this experience changed my perspective on life.
When you spend days wondering whether the sky above you might suddenly become dangerous, your definition of happiness changes. The problems that once felt overwhelming — career worries, future plans, small conflicts — suddenly shrink. Being alive. Being safe. Being surrounded by people who care whether you wake up tomorrow. Those things become everything.
What we heard this week were the sounds of defense systems protecting us. And even that was frightening. I cannot imagine what life is like for people who hear the sounds of actual bombings every day: people whose lives are not about planning the future, but simply surviving long enough to have one.
This experience made me love and appreciate the people around me even more: my friends, my family, and other close people. When something like this happens, you realize how many people who reach out unexpectedly and check on you so often truly want you alive, safe, and well. And that realization changes you.
I stand in solidarity with everyone whose lives have been disrupted by violence and war. More than anything, I hope for safety, peace, and the chance for people everywhere to simply live their lives without fear.
