Lance Kevin Dimabayao

Lance is an aspiring psychiatrist. He says he’s “pursuing this career to support others in their struggles with mental health”. Lance began his EvCC journey through College in the High School classes at Lake Stevens High School. Now that he’s completed high school he’s fully enrolled at EvCC and excelling as a college student. Lance received the Assistance League Everett Community College Scholarship for the 2022-2023 school year. He says, “my worries for the future have been alleviated through the kindness and support of the donors of the Foundation Scholarship.”

Tell me a little bit about yourself, including the degree or certificate you are working toward at EvCC.

I was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when I was eight years old. I became interested in the medical field and am working towards my Associate of Science Degree, specifically Science Transfer Track 1 AS. The COVID-19 Lockdown emphasized the issue of mental health and the effects from isolation still continue to impact people today. I hope to become a psychiatrist and support others in their struggles with mental health.

Why did you choose EvCC?

Enrolling in EvCC enables me to venture into the real world without being overwhelmed by everything at once. The phrase, "stay close, go far" means I will be able to stay close to my family and maintain most of my routine while learning more about the world before I can go on by my own once I graduate from Everett Community College. It's also a financially sound decision to enroll in EvCC; it lessened my financial worries in the future.

What interested you about your area of study?

As an aspiring psychiatrist, I am most interested in the functions of the brain, how complications in the brain lead to psychiatric disorders, how problems in the nervous system can affect the brain's information processing which results in abnormal behavior, and the effect medicine has on the processes of the brain in treating these psychiatric disorders on a scientific level. Science has done wonders for the world throughout history and learning more about science will improve my ability to help others. 

What do you plan to do next? 

I plan to get a job, preferably in a hospital or a medical setting. I have been accepted to the Phi Theta Kappa chapter in EvCC and I plan to join more clubs to meet new people and bond with people with similar interests. I was the Vice-President of Lake Stevens High School last school year and I enjoyed putting plans to action with the help of other people. Working with COVID restrictions and juggling through unprecedented events allowed my perseverance to grow and expand my ability to see the potential causes and effects of my decisions. With the hindsight of what I know now and everything I've persevered through, I hope to become better and I have my eyes on joining EvCC's ASB if time and availability allow me to do so.

How is your Foundation Scholarship helping you succeed in reaching your education and career goals?

It allowed me to focus more on my education and lessen my financial worry. The journey to become a physician involves a lot of money and my worries for the future have been alleviated through the kindness and support of the donors of the Foundation Scholarship. It solidified my ability to strive for greatness even more because I have people who are supporting me financially to achieve my goals. The donors are putting their own money into my own success and it fostered my will to succeed and I won't let them down. With the help I've received, I hope to give it back to others through my work as a physician in the future. 

Describe the best experience you had at EvCC so far.

Although I haven't studied physically in the EvCC campus since I achieved my credits through College in the High School program at Lake Stevens High School, the best experience I had in EvCC classes was when my classmates and I were working together after school for long periods of time in zoom meetings to complete our projects and teach each other what we didn't understand from the lessons of our classes. It improved our friendships with each other and we had fun in the process of tackling difficult material. It made me feel not alone when I'm struggling and I appreciate the support and funny conversations that occurred in the zoom meetings with my friends when doing class projects virtually.

Who has helped you succeed at EvCC? What did that person do to help you?

All of my instructors-Mr. Allinson, Mr. Billingsley, Mr. Hayman- helped me succeed in EvCC's College in the High School program in Lake Stevens High School. Mr. Allinson is very easy-going which makes it easier to approach him in the morning before school for assistance in the homework he assigns or in the lessons he teaches. He somehow is able to tie his funny and interesting stories to rigorous calculus lessons and he is very wholesome. Mr. Billingsly taught our class in zoom but he is able to make the lessons fun by the way he talks while teaching his lessons. All of his students can tell he is very passionate about teaching U.S. History and found a way to interact with us in his virtual lessons so we don't easily get distracted. Mrs. Horn is one of the kindest teachers I've ever met in my experience as a student. She is the type of teacher that checks in with us and makes sure we are okay. She supports us in our extracurricular activiites by being present at our events. She is the teacher that has your back and cares about you personally which makes me feel comfortable when I am in her class. She teaches her lessons in a way I can easily understand too. Mr. Hayman is one of the funniest and best teachers I've had in my entire experience as a student. He makes class engaging by doing impressions and relating funny, out-of-the-box examples to American government. I took his class in senior year and by far, it was one of my favorite classes that year. Although the material was hard, it was very easy to pay attention in class because of his funny presentations and I love how he can instantly become serious when talking about serious topics. 

What advice do you have for new students?

Be an inspiration, not exclusively for others, but for your future self; the goal is to become a better person so you are able to look back at your past and remember the person you used to be. In 9th grade, I raised my hand for the first time in class as an extreme introvert and it unraveled a journey of conquering my anxiety, building my confidence, and creating the extroverted personality that I have today. I became the person I never thought I would be. There are times when you look back at your past and notice how one small, single step can be a pivotal moment in your life and unleash a huge change that is still present today. I am glad the extreme introvert version of me in 9th grade mustered up the courage to make a small, simple act of raising my hand in class. I advise people to take small steps because they end up the best and your future self will be proud of you for doing so.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I am satisfied with my answers I have nothing left to add.