Jin Teng Kam ’25 Helps Save Professor’s Life
Major: Criminal Justice
Minor: Law
Mentor: Adjunct Professor Gary Wright, Department of Law, Police Science and Criminal
Program: National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
Hometown: Malaysia; Brooklyn, NY
Career Aspiration: Immigration Attorney
Post-Graduation Plans: Prepare for law school/work in family business
What was life like before John Jay?
I grew up in Malaysia and I immigrated to the United States when I was 13. As Chinese-Malaysian people, my family faced a lot of racism, discrimination, and violence in Malaysia because we looked different. We were targeted all the time. We’d get robbed many times and were paid less than others in jobs. As a Chinese-Malaysian, we didn’t have the same opportunities as others.
When I was six years old, my grandmother picked me up from school. One day in the car after she picked me up, four people broke the car window and pointed a knife at my grandma’s neck. I remember being so scared sitting next to her. What really hurt was knowing that she wanted to protect me, but she couldn’t do anything. We were robbed again three more times and knew that we were targeted because we were Chinese-Malaysian.
Luckily, my older brother was doing a college program that included two years in Malaysia and two years in the United States. Because of the discrimination we’d been facing and the unfair access to opportunities, my dad decided that as a family we’d migrate to America to start a new life.
When we got to New York, one of the first places a relative brought us to was Chinatown. At 13, I was a little disappointed because I’d seen Spider-Man movies with all the skyscrapers in the Manhattan skyline. That made Chinatown feel so much smaller—it wasn’t what was advertised in the movies I’d seen—but soon I got used to the city and began to enjoy growing up in Brooklyn.
The education systems in New York and Malaysia are very different. My experience with the New York education system was lovely because I had teachers around me who cared about me. My English wasn’t very good, but they never wanted me to fall behind. They would stay with me when I needed help, recommended resources, and suggested different opportunities for me.
Why John Jay?
I wanted to come to John Jay because I wanted to learn how to help people who faced hate. My family experienced this in Malaysia but we actually faced even worse discrimination during the pandemic in New York City. A lot of Asian people experienced Asian hate just for wearing a mask on the subway. At times, we were afraid to go outside. I wanted to go to a school where I could learn how to protect my family and my people. I knew that John Jay College would give me the resources to become a strong leader.
How have your John Jay mentors put you on the path to success?
I took a few classes with Professor Wright and enjoyed them because he never lectured us off of slideshows. Instead, he gave us his real-life experiences—like his court cases and experiences with clients. Professor Wright would break down how justice systems could be unfair to the poor and easier on the rich and powerful. Professor Wright inspired me to do something to change the problems in the justice system. He helped shape me to become a leader.
How did you help save your mentor’s life?
Professor Wright had been suffering from a cough for a while. One day he came to class and said he had to cancel it because he wasn’t feeling well. I was worried about him, so I sat and talked with him. About 10 minutes into the conversation, he was coughing really hard, struggling to breathe, and feeling dizzy. He reached out to his doctor, who instructed him to go to the hospital, which was a 30-minute drive away. I asked Professor Wright if he needed any help. At first, he said, “Oh, it’s okay. I can make it to the hospital,” and headed toward his Uber by himself. Five minutes later, he sent another student to find me. When I reached Professor Wright, he asked me to put his stuff in his office—which I quickly did—and then I got into the Uber with him.
During the ride, he was hardly able to speak and shaking. When we got to the hospital, I helped check him into the emergency room. As we waited, I contacted Professor Wright’s family and let them know what was going on with him. I actually started to feel like a family member because the doctor was talking to me and telling me what they were going to do next. I stayed at the hospital until his surgery was over and his family arrived.
Have you connected with Professor Wright afterward?
He was in the ICU for a few days after the surgery, but he made a point of having one of his friends give me a call. The friend relayed that Professor Wright was very thankful for my help and he said I saved his life. I don’t think I saved his life; I think he saved his own life, but I’m glad that he trusted me to help him. If someone decides to trust me in such a serious situation, I’m going to try my best to not disappoint them.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope to become an immigration attorney. I’ve worked as a paralegal for three years. In the office, I act as a liaison between clients and attorneys to prepare immigration forms. I’ve been helping people who are trying to get a green card or citizenship. In the future, I’d like to be an attorney who fights for immigrants trying to seek a better life and who may have faced discrimination in their countries. My family has been through this difficult process and I believe no one should face that process alone.
You were mentioned in President Mason’s commencement speech. What was that moment like for you?
That was an incredible experience that I could hardly believe was happening. My grandma in Malaysia stayed up till 5:00 in the morning to watch my graduation. When I was in Malaysia, I wasn’t a good student and hated going to school. So, seeing me on the big screen at commencement, with the President recognizing my story, was special for her. She told me that she was proud of me and couldn’t believe how much I changed after coming to New York. I was so happy to finally make my family proud. I think it’s the best moment of my life that I’ll never forget.
Please finish this sentence: Because of John Jay…
I’ve gained the knowledge that will help me advocate for others in the future.
