Kaina Malik

Hello!

I’m Kaina Malik. I come from a village in Haryana, India, and have been brought up by supportive parents and a loving elder sister who also happens to be my best friend. 

 

Before I came to Duke, I took a gap year to pursue my passion for fencing professionally and being at the national stage, I was so intrigued by how the mental aspect of the game impacts the physical that I chose Sports Psychology. 

 

At Duke, I am undertaking the study of psychology and am also ready to put myself out there and challenge myself with courses outside my intended major. 

 

“Why?” is a question I’ve asked all my life to anything and everything that puzzles me. 

Be it the day my teacher in school asked for a “strong boy” to lift a chair for her or the fact that there were no girls on the soccer field. By challenging such thought processes that are so deeply entrenched in our systems, I made a place for myself at tables I wouldn’t be conventionally welcome at by being the only girl on the boys soccer team and leading a student council of 109 members in the capacity of Head Girl. I’ve grown to like breaking barriers and questioning societal norms. 

 

You’ll almost always see me with my headphones on, listening to the music that channels my warrior mentality. The Bhagavad Gita, an Indian scripture from the epic Mahabharata has also played a role in this. But when the warrior rests, you’ll see me dance, competitively and for leisure, sing and enjoy a warm cup of chai with my friends. 

 

My mother has been a major source of inspiration for me and has set an example by embodying values of tenacity and resilience which is what brought me to this program. 

Authenticity lies at the core of my value system and I intend to bring that with me in every step as a Baldwin Scholar. I am truly honoured to be a part of this empowering cohort and look forward to learning and growing together.