Living in a quieter world

Nicolette KOH, a Year 1 Pharmacy student, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of three, where speech becomes inaudible and only loud sounds can be heard. After finding that hearing aids did not help, she underwent three major surgeries during her childhood to get cochlear implants.

Her many surgeries and doctors’ visits sparked her passion in pharmacy. She says, “After each surgery, I was prescribed post-surgical medications and I wondered how these help with my recovery. As I got older, I started looking up the components of the medicine. I was fascinated to learn how the different compounds interact in our bodies and developed a passion for the field.”

To Nicolette, life is a constant series of challenges. In spite of this, or even because of it, she has an ardent belief – that by focusing on her strengths, she can surmount obstacles in her life and achieve her dreams.

It is with this foundational belief that she has prevailed in spite of a challenging childhood where she struggled to communicate with her peers and teachers, and throughout each stage of her journey in managing life with hearing loss.

From speech therapy to technological aids and coping with social, educational, emotional and environmental challenges, learning and relearning have become essential processes which impact her life positively in many ways.

For instance, on the social front, she has to learn how to navigate conversations and interactions with others, as well as to advocate for her needs. At school, she has to “work harder to learn and process information”, and adapt to learning difficulties due to hearing loss.  

This has not stopped Nicolette from reaching out to others with disabilities. Any act of kindness, she affirms, “makes the lives of others better and enriches us emotionally.”

To this end, in her previous school, she founded a new co-curricular activity, Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) NP Supportify to promote inclusivity for special educational needs (SEN) students on campus.

She is currently in NUS Enabler’s Programmes Subcommittee, where she plans and executes events to raise awareness on disability, such as the recent Inclusive Fest (2023). She has also shared her experiences with secondary school students to inspire them and is one of the overseers for the upcoming NUS Enabler’s Orientation Camp (2023).

Despite the many challenges she faces, Nicolette has an uplifting message for students with disabilities. “With the right support and resources, as well as perseverance, individuals can achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives despite their disabilities.”

Nicolette is a recipient of the Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities.