Cathy Zhong

Cathy is a first generation college student with Chinese parents majoring in Human Biology at Thurgood Marshall College.  Her dream is to attend veterinary school and become a small animal surgeon at an animal shelter.  Her motivation comes from “wanting to help people who are struggling with mental health, lacking access to mental health care, and relying on beloved pets for support.”  Her goal is to offer low-income pet owners the option of low-cost advanced surgeries by working at an animal shelter at a significantly lower salary than what veterinary surgeons earn at animal hospitals, in order to provide these surgeries the same way shelters provide low-cost spay and neuter services. 

Cathy’s exceptional time management skills and resilience have allowed her to maintain a 3.97 grade point average while balancing her responsibilities of work, volunteering, research and classes.  She is proud to have become completely financially independent by developing solutions for making more money and spending less.  Her family provides no financial support and, having never attended college, do not understand the workload, stress and emotional and financial burdens of attending college. 

Aside from her academic pursuits and passion for veterinary medicine, Cathy has a deep love for ballet and ice skating and cherishes the opportunities when she can enjoy them, taking advantage of free ballet classes at UCSD.  “I’ve come to recognize the importance of pursuing one’s interests and passions, even amidst the challenges of financial independence.”  She also enjoys volunteering in a lab that researches a favorite topic, diabetes.

“I want pets to live long and happily not only because I love animals, but also because I know those pets are special to other people, just like how my cats help with my mental health.”  Cathy is committed to pursuing her dream of becoming a small animal  veterinary surgeon working hard to balance her academics, work responsibilities, her mental health and taking care of her cats.