I am Nandini Agarwal, a final-year student of Sociology driven by a deep-rooted passion for empowering marginalized voices and communities.
From an early age, I have been appalled by the social disparities and lack of opportunity experienced by the underprivileged, which has fueled my commitment to driving positive change. It all started in Grade 6 in India when I provided voluntary tutoring to my caretaker’s daughter, who did not have access to proper education. Eventually, this solidified my commitment to develop community engagement activities for minority communities.
Before joining the Sociology Department at CUHK, I knew little about this subject. My decision to study sociology stemmed from a desire to understand the systemic inequalities in various aspects of social life. Our department offers a multitude of courses that apply sociological imagination to the issues surrounding health, education, migration, religion, crime and deviance, marriage, and even the broader Hong Kong society. Reflecting on my four years at CUHK, I am grateful to the faculty for shaping my perspectives to be critical, analytical, and open to understanding the complexities of daily life.
Besides the academic courses, my internships have equipped me with practical skills and deepened my appreciation for the narratives that shape our society. While interning at HELP for Domestic Workers, Resolve Foundation, and Crossroads Foundation, I met community leaders who were Migrant Domestic Workers (MDW) – these women were mothers, wives, pillars of Hong Kong society, published authors, activists for women empowerment, and much more. Similarly, I found it inspiring to listen to the journeys of refugees, asylum seekers, neurodivergent individuals, and non-binary people as they sought rights for themselves and their communities in an unequal world.
A pivotal experience that reaffirmed my commitment to helping diverse voices was my eight-month placement at Humanitarian Affairs Asia in Bangkok. There, I collaborated with peers to recruit youth for the 11th University Scholars Leadership Symposium at the United Nations. During this four-day conference, I connected with students and faculty from around the globe, many of whom expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend. However, the most impactful moment for me was a one-hour conversation with a university staff member from Saudi Arabia. We discussed how the conference had sown seeds of empowerment for their female students and on personal stories of volunteerism. Meeting such selfless individuals and witnessing the tangible impact of our efforts drives my dedication to civic engagement and community development.
Moreover, my involvement with student organizations like AIESEC and TEDxCUHK has been instrumental in extending opportunities for dialogue on critical social issues. Through AIESEC, I learned the value of leadership in guiding my peers, while TEDxCUHK allowed me to amplify voices from across Hong Kong on topics often overlooked.
CUHK and the Sociology Department have been a significant backbone in creating the foundational knowledge required for social change and development. Through the extensive selection of courses at the University, I had the privilege to obtain a deep understanding of social issues, specifically gender and sustainability, within the context of Hong Kong.
My journey in uncovering sociological imagination extends to my hobbies, such as reading and crocheting. I enjoy books that illuminate the inequalities faced by social actors, whether related to race, gender, ethnicity, or class.
As I prepare to graduate, I look forward to leveraging my experiences to contribute to sustainable development and social justice initiatives. My journey in sociology has taught me that creating an equitable world requires continuous learning and collaboration, and I am excited to be part of this vital work.
Nandini (LinkedIn)
