I have always believed that people in the Social Sciences are guided by the questions that live quietly but persistently in their hearts—questions they pursue with dedication, even when their fields differ. I am no exception. My academic and professional journey has always been driven by an inner desire to seek answers, and nothing brings me more joy than being surrounded by others who share this curiosity.

When I was young and still unsure of what these inner questions were, I indulged myself to explore widely. I interned at an LGBTQ NGO in Beijing. In listening to the community’s life stories—their challenges, resilience, and pursuit of authenticity—I found the topic for my undergraduate dissertation on generational differences in attitudes toward marriage among gay men. I climbed several mountains in Yunnan to reach remote villages of older leprosy survivors, learning firsthand about the history of battling this “demon disease” and hearing stories that may soon disappear from our nation’s memory as they are the last generation affected by the disease. I also visited multiple “Time Banks” across China to understand how grassroots mutual-help organizations or simply practices support older adults amid rapid population aging and migration. These experiences, along with many others, revealed my enduring passion for understanding people and society. How fascinating are Sociology and Anthropology? One person is already complex; with two, relationships form; with more, a community or even society emerges—along with culture, norms, rituals, structures, etc.

I have long felt drawn to those at the margins of society, and this desire to understand large, often overlooked populations led me to study aging at CFPR and during my PhD. Through rigorous quantitative training, I expanded my skills beyond my qualitative foundation. Completing my PhD during the pandemic was challenging, and I remain deeply grateful to my supervisor and my committee members, who are all CFPR faculties, for their unwavering support. Their guidance made it possible for me to take the next step toward my academic dream.

Research has always been central to my sense of purpose, yet I have come to realize that its impact extends beyond academia. Working at NVPC allowed me to see how research is understood and valued outside universities, and it led me to exchange ideas with scholars from diverse backgrounds—even those from Gaza.

To me, research is both a way of seeking answers and a privilege. My greatest hope is to use this privilege to pursue questions that genuinely matter, and I am still on this path.

-Dr. Xinyi Chen; Senior Manager at National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), Singapore; Former CFPR Research Scholar, #HumansofCFPR