Long before she became president of Flagler College’s Deaf Awareness Club, before she transferred to Flagler in search of a campus that felt like home, and before she stepped onto an international stage wearing red, white, and blue, Nilan found her rhythm in the pool.
“I discovered my love for swimming when I was around six years old,” she said. “By the time I was ten, I had decided to swim year-round.”
What began as a childhood passion evolved into years of club competition and high school meets. Swimming was the one sport that stayed with her. Eventually, she decided to take a leap of faith and submit her times, chasing a dream she had quietly carried for years.
That decision led her to represent Team USA at the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil, where she competed alongside 136 other American athletes.
The Deaflympics, first held in Paris in 1924, are the longest-running multi-sport event in history after the Olympics and were the first international competition for athletes with disabilities. Held every four years, the games have grown from a gathering of athletes from nine European nations into a global movement.
For Nilan, the experience was about far more than competition.
“It was truly an honor to represent Team USA at the Deaflympics,” she said. “I attended a public school where I was one of the few Deaf students. It felt amazing to be seen for more than just being deaf.”
Competing at that level reflected years of discipline and resilience, including pushing through injuries along the way. But perhaps the most impactful was the sense of belonging.
“The experience brought me new friendships and opportunities to learn signs from other countries,” she said. “It gave me a strong sense of pride in who I am and was incredibly empowering to see all of us competing at such a high level.”
The lessons she carried home from Brazil did not stay in the pool.
“The Deaflympics taught me the value of perseverance and staying committed even when things get tough,” she said. “It also showed me the power of community. Being Deaf is a strength, not a limitation.”
That belief now shapes her leadership on Flagler’s campus.
Nilan, a senior psychology major with minors in criminology and American Sign Language, joined the Deaf Awareness Club after transferring to Flagler in the fall of 2024. She was looking for connection, but what she found was a community.
“I quickly fell in love with the club,” she said. “The club feels like home to me, not just because of the activities, but because so many members have become close friends.”
Now serving as president during her final year on campus, Nilan said stepping into the role was intentional.
“I’m graduating soon and wanted to leave my mark,” she said. “I also believe it’s important to have a deaf student in that position.”
The Deaf Awareness Club exists to provide opportunities for exposure to, and the exchange of ideas related to deaf education, while fostering greater understanding of Deaf culture and American Sign Language through engaging experiences. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning about Deaf culture or working with the Deaf community. No prior knowledge of ASL is required.
“Our board is a mix of Deaf and hearing members,” Nilan said. “Two of us are Deaf and three are hearing, so we lead by example.”
At club events, some members use voice, while others communicate entirely through ASL. Meetings often include teaching basic signs, allowing students with no prior experience to participate fully.
“The best part is seeing people gain confidence in using ASL and connecting with others,” she said. “Everyone just enjoys being part of a supportive, inclusive community.”
That sense of community extends beyond campus.
The club partners with the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, working with students in residential life and the Ponce housing community. Each year, members host a Trick-or-Treat Halloween event that brings Deaf youth and college students together in one space. Plans are also underway for a collaboration project with the University of North Florida to expand outreach efforts.
“These experiences connect classroom learning to real Deaf community engagement,” Nilan said. “Members build communication skills, cultural understanding and leadership while strengthening relationships between the campus and the Deaf community.”
Nilan believes a visible Deaf presence on campus is essential, particularly given Flagler’s proximity to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and the presence of Deaf faculty and students.
“Having a visible Deaf presence shows that ASL and Deaf culture are valued here,” she said. “It encourages hearing students to learn and engage and creates a more welcoming environment for everyone.”
Although she is not majoring in Deaf Education, Nilan said Flagler’s strong ASL and Deaf education offerings influenced her decision to transfer. She also participated in a January Flagship course titled Deaf Ecosystem, which she described as transformative, especially because many participants were not Deaf Education majors.
As she prepares to graduate this spring, Nilan hopes her journey as both a Deaflympian and student leader challenges assumptions and expands perspectives.
“I hope my story shows our campus that being Deaf is not a limitation, but a strength,” she said. “When we approach differences with curiosity and respect, we build a stronger, more inclusive community for everyone.”
