At the age of 16, a girl from Pljevlja packed her bags and set off on a journey that would take her thousands of kilometers away from home. First to Scotland, where she graduated from high school, and then to the United Arab Emirates, where she is now studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world - New York University Abu Dhabi (NYAD).
Although leaving home as a teenager was a big challenge for Selma Lujinović, it was these experiences that shaped her into an independent young person ready to face everything that life in an international environment brings.
"Ever since high school, my journey has been marked by major changes. Moving to Scotland taught me to adapt to new environments, cultures, and lifestyles. That's why going to college in the United Arab Emirates wasn't so much a challenge as a natural continuation of my educational journey," the 19-year-old, who finished her first year of college in May, tells "Vijesti".
She found additional motivation for going to the Emirates in the experience of her brother, who had previously studied at Al Qasimia University. Through his example, she learned about the quality of education that the country offers to international students, and began to explore the possibilities for continuing her education in more detail.
The choice fell on NYUAD.
“I was attracted by the university’s reputation, its high position in world rankings, the international environment and the concept of a liberal arts education. Unlike traditional educational systems, the liberal arts model allows students to explore various disciplines from the social, natural and human sciences in addition to their main field of study. Such a system contributes to the development of critical thinking and a broader view of the world. In addition to the natural sciences, I had the opportunity to study philosophy, psychology, literature and other fields that I probably would not have known if I had studied in a different system,” she says.
"Generous scholarship" after multiple rounds of selection
In addition to academic quality, the scholarship that the university awards to students also played an important role in the decision:
"It is an extremely generous scholarship that allows many students access to an education that would otherwise be difficult to financially afford."
The path to admission to the university was not easy. The process involved several rounds of selection, including applying through the Common App platform, submitting grades, essays and other documentation, and an interview. The competition, he says, was huge, as the university accepts only three to four percent of applicants from around the world.
After successfully completing the admission process, a new chapter in life and an encounter with the Middle East followed. Arriving in the Emirates brought new experiences, but also surprises.
"I arrived in August and I don't think anything could have prepared me for the heat I felt as soon as I stepped out of the airport. That was definitely the first big change I had to get used to," she recalls with a smile.
More than 200 nationalities
However, a much stronger impression than the weather was left by the encounter with one of the most diverse communities in the world.
“The United Arab Emirates is home to over 200 nationalities. Although I have lived in an international environment in Scotland, I have never been surrounded by so many different cultures, languages and customs before.”
At the university, she met students from almost every continent, from the Balkans and Europe, through Africa and Asia, to North and South America.
"I have friends from Fiji, Afghanistan, China, Rwanda, Russia, Mexico, the United States and many other countries. It is this diversity that is one of the most valuable experiences I have gained during my studies."
Living in such an international environment has further deepened her love for languages and learning about other cultures. In addition to her native language, she speaks English, Turkish, and French, and is currently learning Arabic. She believes that languages are much more than a means of communication - they open the door to understanding different cultures, customs, and ways of thinking of people around the world.
“It wasn’t just about talking. We celebrated holidays together, prepared traditional foods, shared music and movies from our countries, learned words from different languages, and talked about the customs we grew up with. I attended events I didn’t even know existed before. These experiences contributed to my personal development as much as my academic education.”
Although she is still in the process of making a final decision about her professional direction, she is most attracted to the natural sciences.
"Currently, I am most interested in chemistry, mathematics, and physics, but thanks to the study system, I have the opportunity to explore different fields before making a final decision."
His love for science developed while he was studying in Scotland.
"It was there that I had the first opportunity to do more serious laboratory experiments and practical work. It was this part of science that sparked my interest in research."
Today, he is already participating in research work in the field of quantum chemistry.
Student life in Abu Dhabi, he says, is a combination of intensive work and a rich social life.
“Sometimes I have lectures in the morning, sometimes I have lab exercises all day long. We spend a lot of time in the library, doing group projects or studying for exams. However, there is still time for hobbies. I do sport climbing, which has become one of my favorite ways to relax after college obligations.”
He particularly emphasizes the quality of studies and the relationship between professors and students.
"The lectures are not too numerous, so the professors have time to devote to each student. The atmosphere is much more interactive than I expected."
Professors, he says, are top experts and researchers who lead international projects, but at the same time remain very accessible to students.
"I am currently doing research in the field of quantum chemistry with a professor at the faculty, which allows me to practically apply the knowledge acquired in lectures."
The university is said to have modern laboratories and research centers in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence.
Challenging farewells
However, life abroad has its other side.
"The biggest challenge was saying goodbye to people you become attached to. First when I left Montenegro for Scotland, and then from Scotland to the Emirates. However, it was through these changes that I learned the value of stepping out of your comfort zone. Every new environment brings new friendships, experiences, and perspectives."
When she talks about what she misses most, the answer comes without thinking - family and friends. She also misses the little things that, as she says, we often only start to appreciate when we lose them from our everyday lives.
"In Scotland, I missed the sun, sea, and summer in Montenegro, while in the Emirates I sometimes miss the winter, snow, and nature I was used to growing up here."
Despite the distance, family support was never lacking.
"My family believed in me from the very beginning. They encouraged me to explore opportunities and be ambitious even when some decisions seemed daunting."
He still sees himself in Montenegro.
In the future, he plans to continue his education through master's and doctoral studies, because research is the area in which he sees his professional future.
However, regardless of where the path leads, one thing is certain.
"I definitely see myself in Montenegro. I would like to one day bring the knowledge, experience and contacts I have gained through education and work abroad back to my country and use them for its development."
He tells young people from Montenegro to be curious, persistent and open to new experiences.
"Many things seem impossible until you try for the first time. It's important to work on yourself, learn foreign languages, and not give up after the first failure," says Selma.
She learned the most important life lesson precisely through the journey that took her from Pljevlja to Abu Dhabi:
“The greatest growth and change often lies right behind the things that scare us. There's a thought I love: a ship is safe in port, but ships aren't built to stay there. I think that best describes my experience studying abroad.”
Significantly different education systems
Although both Scotland and the United Arab Emirates are known for their quality education, Selma points out that the systems differ significantly.
During her secondary education in Scotland, teaching was much more focused on specialization and the subjects that the student wanted to study in the future. Having taken chemistry, mathematics and biology, the focus of her education was, she says, almost exclusively on the natural sciences.
On the other hand, studies at New York University Abu Dhabi are based on the liberal arts system of education, which provides students with much broader academic freedom. Instead of narrowly focusing on one area, students have the opportunity to explore different disciplines, regardless of their major. So, in addition to courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics, she also took courses in philosophy, psychology, literature, and other social sciences and humanities.
“In Scotland, education was more focused on what you wanted to do, while studying in the Emirates allowed me to discover a much broader range of interests. The liberal arts system gives students the freedom to explore different areas, develop critical thinking, and gain a broader education before fully focusing on one profession.”
In Scotland, I missed the sun, sea and summer in Montenegro, while in the Emirates I sometimes miss the winter, snow and nature I was used to growing up here.
Unlike traditional educational systems, the liberal arts model allows students to explore a variety of disciplines in the social, natural, and humanities in addition to their major field of study. Such a system contributes to the development of critical thinking and a broader worldview.
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