You say you now feel completely healthy, having been treated and given techniques to manage your symptoms. How has this diagnosis as a young adult impacted you? Has the fact that you developed MS as a young adult changed your perspectives about people with disabilities?
To my detriment, until college I was not around individuals with disabilities and did not understand the accommodations they need. My breakthrough came when I received a probable diagnosis and educated myself about the complex nature of MS. I developed a deeper empathy and respect for, as well as an awareness of the resilience required from, those who live with disabilities. Ultimately, my MS helped me shift the narrative from feeling limited to celebrating my adaptability and strength. The more I understood my differently abled self, the more I found myself challenging assumptions and stereotypes about what people with disabilities can or cannot do, and striving to foster a more inclusive and supportive society.
You’ve had a variety of professional experiences, from tutoring and teaching math to serving as a biological sciences research assistant at City University of New York (CUNY). What experiences inspired you to go to law school?
My pursuit of a legal career is an amalgamation of my past experiences. I was raised by strong women who persevered against gender inequality to reach their aspirations. Living in a boarding school in India, I learned to be self-sufficient and make judgments on minor issues. I understood the need to be confident and heard at a very young age.
When my mother and I migrated to Singapore, it was challenging for me to express my thoughts, views, and concerns. I was in a foreign environment where people looked different and spoke in unfamiliar tongues. Following a period of disarray, I volunteered at an elder care facility after school. Speaking and spending time with the wise of my new community gave me an essential insight into the ‘Singaporean’ way of being. I realized that instead of limiting myself to fit in, I had to embrace new ways of speaking up. I organized town halls, community service projects, and community-based events for my school.
Being in a classroom in America surprised me. Students were not afraid to express their thoughts and concerns or unabashedly point out flaws in someone’s opinions. Through Student Government in college, I identified the need for social awareness, designing and holding educational workshops on various topics for student immigrants like me.
My determination to pursue a legal career was most motivated by my health and need to advocate for myself, as well as the injustices I have observed. Being a lawyer would equip me with the tools I needed to push for change and systemic reform in any institution that perpetuates oppression on those with marginalized identities.
What area of law most interests you and why?
I am most interested in corporate and commercial litigation, alternate dispute resolution, international criminal law, intellectual property, and insurance defense work. My interests are influenced by my experiences as a legal intern for various firms and a member of my school’s arbitration team, as well as my participation in many international law speaker events.
You are the founder and president of the International Law (INTEL) Student Association. Why did you decide to start INTEL? Can you tell me about that work?
I believe that a morally engaged life requires an awareness of issues, an agency to act, and a deep sense of responsibility to your community. Leadership, to me, is encouraging others to seek a morally engaged life for themselves or their community. Through INTEL, I hope to continue the school’s work in building a morally engaged community at Drexel Kline School of Law by enlightening students on various aspects of international law and fostering community engagement for students from all walks of life to come together and celebrate our school’s diversity.
What advice would you give to disabled law students with multiple identities?
Do not push your body to its limits to get an “A” for a class. Instead, do your very best to understand the subject as a whole and stay resilient. Also, educate yourself about your body so you can cope and adapt. Lastly, someone once asked me, “What do you call someone who graduated last in their law school?” The answer — “a law school graduate with a J.D.” — stuck with me. I hope it sticks with you too.
