by Jenelle Birnbaum, UW Undergraduate Academic Affairs (originally published as the 2017 Academic & Student Affairs Combined Endowed Fund Report)
Dorothy Cabantan鈥檚 journey to the 天美影视传媒 began before she was born. Eager to pursue the American dream, her mom filed an immigration petition to leave the Philippines. By the time the request was approved 20 years later, Cabantan was 17, about to graduate from high school and poised to enter a medical-track university program in her home country.
Even so, Cabantan quickly decided she was meant to be a Husky 鈥� especially after learning about the incredible opportunities for undergraduate research and the scope of majors available at the UW. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been fascinated by biological systems, especially the brain,鈥� she says. 鈥淎s a leader in health care and research, the UW looked like an exceptional place for me to study.鈥�
So Cabantan came to Seattle, acceptance letter in hand. But the transition wasn鈥檛 easy for her family 鈥� immigrating to the United States meant that her parents had to sacrifice financial security and career stability. 鈥淚 am immensely grateful for all the support I received, including the OMA&D鈥檚 Gerberding Merit Scholarship,鈥� says Cabantan. 鈥淣ot only did I use it for school expenses like textbooks, but it also meant my parents could use money for household bills that would have otherwise gone toward school.鈥�
Cabantan knew she needed to catch up on her STEM prerequisite classes. Determined to succeed but unsure of the expectations for students here, she found support through the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Instructional Center (IC), where she attended study sessions, lab writing workshops and built a network of peers. 鈥淚 owe much of my success to this community,鈥� Cabantan says.
鈥淲ithout the IC, I wouldn鈥檛 have gained the confidence to pursue my major in neurobiology.鈥�
She also learned from those around her at every opportunity. Her graduate student TAs played a key role in teaching her to think more critically when probing into scientific questions. As a science tutor for K-8 students through Undergraduate Academic Affairs鈥� Pipeline Project, Cabantan based her teaching philosophy on that of her role models, gently walking students through questions to solve problems.鈥淲ithout the IC, I wouldn鈥檛 have gained the confidence to pursue my major in neurobiology.鈥�
Motivated to learn more about the concepts she was studying in class, Cabantan dove into research alongside her faculty mentors. 鈥淭he challenges posed by research pushed me to question existing beliefs and generate alternative solutions,鈥� she says. And presenting her findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium 鈥渁llowed me to communicate my scientific work to people of diverse academic backgrounds.鈥�
Early on, Cabantan also realized that being a student meant more than just acing her classes. With the goal of fostering connections with fellow Huskies, she joined the Associated Students of the 天美影视传媒. She went on to serve as a Dawg Daze team captain, an undergraduate research leader, a Pipeline Project tutor, a mentor for OMA&D鈥檚 Mentor Power for Success Program, vice president for advertising for the UW TriBeta Biological Honor Society and a volunteer at Seattle Children鈥檚 Hospital.
With the help of scholarship support, Cabantan was able to focus her energy on her education both in and out of the classroom. Her exceptional academic success and service to the UW community even earned her a spot in the Husky 100 and as one of six student banner carriers for the 2017 commencement ceremony.
Equipped with a world-class education, Cabantan plans to continue serving others by becoming a physician. 鈥淢y passion for equitable, patient-centered care is a direct result of growing up in a third-world nation where basic health care is deemed a privilege by many, instead of a right,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ne day, I hope to translate my undergraduate studies and medical training in the U.S. into providing health care for underserved communities here and in the rural Philippines.鈥�