Forever Learning

This past week I started my third year in pharmacy school, my last year in class! I still have a years worth of rotations, but this is a major milestone to me. In pharmacy & in life learning never truly ends, but at least I won’t be sitting in hours and hours and hours of lecture. With the passing of the years comes things I’ve learned and wisdom that I have gained. Here are my top 6 things I have learned since starting pharmacy school.

1. I did a whole lot of growing this year & learned my true test of emotional strength and determination. It is crazy how when you come into school everything seems impossible and you aren’t sure how you can learn all of this, work, keep a social life, etc. You will learn to adapt. You will struggle, but it will show you how strong you are. If pharmacy school was easy everyone would do it. Only passionate individuals will succeed and be able to make a difference.

2. Start early.  Don’t procrastinate. This is something I struggle with, especially at the start of the semester. I’m still in break mode and it takes a little bit to get out of it. I normally always regret if I push something off to the last minute. Also, you add unnecessary pressure if you do so. The hardest part is always starting, so just start. There is no magic wand or motivational speech I can give you to make you do things. If you just convince yourself to sit down and do whatever you need to do then you have already jumped over the hardest hurdle.

3. Reach out to your support group when you need help. I cried a lot last year. I mean a lot. I honestly think I wouldn’t have survived if I didn’t have such a great support system. My parents, friends back home, friends here in Baltimore, and my wonderful boyfriend all listened to me complain, cry, vent, etc. I even talked to my pharmacy store manager about how difficult of a time I was having and her words of encouragement were helpful. Mentally and emotionally I think this is essential to have.

4. Ask around for different opportunities and saying yes to opportunities that present them self. They can lead to better and more opportunities. I can’t tell you the amount of leadership experience, patient experience, and other opportunities I have gotten just by simply asking. My thought process is, the worst thing someone can say is “No” or just ignore me. Now I get told a lot “no, I don’t have anything at the moment” or “ I don’t have a position for you” and that’s okay. However, I have given myself more opportunity to say yes by simply asking. An example is, I asked to join my states Legislative Committee which then I became the Student Representative for the Committee for Maryland’s Legislative Day 2019. Now I am the Co-chair and planning Maryland Legislative Day 2020. This didn’t all happen at once and has been a slow progression over the past year, but this is just a perfect way to show you never know what will happen.

5. No more negative talk. Negative talk = negative thoughts= negative actions. This doesn't propel you forward. 

6. Some things are just out of your control. Best to learn to just roll through it. Simple. Life is messy and it doesn’t always go as planned. I just try to trust in God’s plan and tell myself everything works out for a reason and it does.