In my three years studying at NYU Abu Dhabi, I often felt like I was gaining theoretical knowledge without knowing how to apply it meaningfully. I cared deeply about social issues- especially education and equity- but struggled to find opportunities to gain experience in policy-making. Internships often required experience I didn’t yet have, and it felt like a closed loop. When I noticed that many other students shared the same opinion, I decided to do something instead of simply waiting for the opportunity to come to me; I started The Policy Collective; a student-led initiative that makes policy engagement accessible to all students, regardless of their background or major. The aim is to host workshops, trainings, and discussions that teach practical policy skills and give students the space to explore real-world issues through research. The goal is to bridge the gap between learning and doing- helping students realize that they don’t need to wait to make an impact!