No voice unheard

Year 1 College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) student Kelly JIN discovered her personal calling to advocate for under-represented communities in high school where she worked closely with marginalised communities. As a sickly child who spent a lot of time in hospital, Kelly also learned to be empathetic towards those who face adversities in life.

There was no better way for her to pursue her passion in advocating for inclusivity than by joining NUS Enablers, where she seeks to generate awareness about disabled communities amongst NUS students.

People with disabilities are not “somehow inadequate”, says Kelly. On the contrary, many of these communities proudly embrace their uniqueness. She cites, for example, how players in the paralympic sport, goalball – which is unique to the blind community – adeptly determine the ball’s location based on sound, enabling them to respond accordingly against their opponents.

The desire to debunk stereotypes and misconceptions of disadvantaged communities is what keeps her going. Kelly, who is majoring in Life Sciences and reading minors in Public Health and Interpreting, says, “It is my strong belief that no voices should be left unheard.”

As NUS Enablers’ Vice President, she works towards challenging such stigmas and showcasing the capabilities and resilience of individuals with disabilities.  One of her proudest moments was representing the university at the Purple Parade (2023), Singapore’s largest disability awareness event, where her team planned NUS’ first-ever participation in the parade. This drew many students, staff and alumni and she says, “By participating in this national movement, we hope to inspire greater inclusivity on campus.”

Beyond her leadership duties at NUS Enablers, Kelly enjoys playing bagpipes and is gaining proficiency in Singapore Sign Language.   

In the future, she plans to further her studies as a medical doctor and specialise in pathology.