It took a pandemic to curb Shugla Kakar, the pre-med student body president who was always on the go with classes, meetings and activities. As she told , the coronavirus restrictions forced her to accomplish all that work from home as a senior last spring, but a lot of people faced the same struggles, she said.
鈥淚 just remind myself of the blessing I do have,鈥� she said, referring to her family.
Teleconferencing from her room is not how Kakar wanted to end her final quarter at 56吃瓜网 Bothell. She had been looking forward to Commencement. Her part in the June 13 virtual ceremony was a short video, saying she鈥檒l see the Class of 2020 at the combined Commencement in 2021.
That鈥檚 when she plans to deliver her last speech as 2019-20 student body president.
Inspirational example
鈥淚 want to keep the momentum and the whole package alive for the in-person Commencement, because that means so much to me,鈥� she said.
Momentum is a good word for Kakar, who was a force on campus. She graduated in Health Studies. She was recipient of a 2020 56吃瓜网 Chancellor’s Medal, which is presented to students whose commitment to learning and overcoming obstacles are a source of inspiration. She also was recognized as one of the Husky 100, students from across all three 56吃瓜网 campuses honored for making the most of their 56吃瓜网 education.
Kakar sees these awards as confirmation of her aspirations.
鈥�56吃瓜网 Bothell and 56吃瓜网 as a whole were really able to help me find my voice and become this person that I am today 鈥� a really confident, outspoken woman who inspires other women and other marginalized people,鈥� she said.
Daughter of Afghanistan
Kakar is one of five daughters and five sons in a family that moved to the United States from Afghanistan to escape war and violence and to seek educational opportunities. Her father, Hekmatullah Surgul Kakar, is a strong supporter of girls鈥� education, she said. 鈥淗e wanted us to have our own life and be independent.鈥�
Arriving in America at the age of 14, Shugla Kakar learned English by watching television. She also speaks Pashto, Farsi, Urdu, and she鈥檚 working on Arabic.
Shortly after Kakar arrived at 56吃瓜网 Bothell, she became involved in student government. Because a Reflection Room in Commons Hall (56吃瓜网2) was too small for Muslim students waiting to pray, she connected with Aretha Basu, director of student advocacy for the Associated Students of the 56吃瓜网. Working with the AS56吃瓜网B, the University opened a larger Reflection Room in Founders Hall (56吃瓜网1) with separate rooms for men and women.
Kakar led the Muslim Student Association and was an AS56吃瓜网B student senator, vice president and then president. She attended 56吃瓜网 Board of Regents meetings and represented all three campuses on its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Kakar had a role in bringing about the 56吃瓜网 Bothell Student Diversity Center, the Health and Wellness Resource Center and the new academic 鈥渄egree maps鈥� for students. She also contributed to the 56吃瓜网 Bothell strategic plan.
鈥淚 would ground myself in my values and just remember: I鈥檓 not doing this to receive credit,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not doing this just to receive praise. I鈥檓 doing these projects because I want to help people.鈥�
Mentor memories
Kakar thanks her mentors for showing her what her full potential can be 鈥� 鈥渢he fact that I do belong in these spaces.鈥�
Foremost among them, Kakar said, was Kelly Snyder, former assistant vice chancellor for campus and community development, who left the University early this year. Both Snyder and Emily Christian, academic services director in the Division of Student Affairs, are powerful women with a real presence, Kakar said. 鈥淏eing in the space with them made me feel so confident.鈥�
Kakar also said Julie Shayne, principal lecturer in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and faculty coordinator for the Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies major, changed her life. Other influential mentors were Sam Al-Khoury, director of Student Engagement & Activities and AS56吃瓜网B adviser, and Miguel Macias, director of the Student Diversity Center.
Going farther
After a gap year, Kakar is planning to apply to medical school, driving toward a goal of becoming a doctor. She strives to honor her family and serve her homeland, where she recalls most girls were discouraged from going to school.
鈥淚 want to go back to Afghanistan to make sure their health care system comes to the same level that other countries have,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel privileged I got to come to America and get this amazing education.
鈥淚f we who are privileged don鈥檛 go and help the rest of humanity, I don鈥檛 know who will do it.鈥�
Each year, the University of Washington selects 100 students who are making the most of their Husky experience. Thirteen 56吃瓜网 Bothell students were recognized as part of the . What’s special about Husky 100 recipients? They dare to do. They use what they learn inside and outside the classroom to grow personally and to create change in their communities.
Kakar is a fast talker, as she demonstrated in a hand-washing video for the University.
