Now that graduation has come and gone, many of my classmates and I are looking ahead to next steps as new practitioners in this ever-evolving profession of pharmacy. Some of us are headed to residencies, some to the retail sector, some to long term care, some to hospitals, and others to military pursuits. All of us, no matter where we are headed, have embraced the unknown: We don’t yet know what life as new practitioners will be like, but we have forged a tentative peace with whatever we believe the new role will demand of us. Having finally reached the milestone of graduation, we stand on the cusp of a yet another journey that is unfurling before us, one day at a time. And this journey is a little more self-guided and a lot less mapped out than the path I took as a student, so despite my anticipation of the “lay of the land,” so to speak, the path still feels a little bit bumpy and uneven under my feet. Like I am taking steps for the first time. Or trying a new pair of shoes on for size and am not sure they suit me or fit me quite right. It feels simultaneously new and old, familiar and foreign. The reality that I have been training for this moment for years and yet hardly find myself an expert in much of anything (except for perhaps looking things up that I don’t know) is par for the course, I am told, by those much wiser and more learned than myself in such matters.
In the spirit of these wonderful mentors, preceptors, and friends, who lifted me up and illuminated my last four years with their kindness, I will share some of the most meaningful pieces of advice I received in pharmacy school with you.
1. “Life does not reward us for efforts expended.”
This one is a bit of a cheat, as I believe my dad first shared this sage bit of advice, a much more eloquent take on “life is not fair,” with me in high school. Or perhaps it was college. But it bears repeating. The kernel of wisdom for me in this statement is not what most people might glean from it which is that we shouldn’t even bother trying because life isn’t fair, but rather that we should recognize that recognition does not always come even when we may be deserving of it. There are lots of fish in this pond. Residencies are competitive. The job market is tight. Sometimes it can feel as though it will never be our turn to shine. But if personal recognition is solely what motivates us, we are doomed to be disappointed, no matter what achievements we are able to accomplish.
2. “It will all shake out in the end.”
One of my dearest mentors shared this pearl with me fairly late in my pharmacy career, and I kind of wish I had heard it earlier. This is one of those hindsight is 20/20 pearls that are never easy to hear when you are stressing about rotations, classes, residencies, or jobs, but which (of course) is always (annoyingly) proven true. We worry about so much in pharmacy school, and so much of it is out of our control. And in life, it really is no different. All you can do is put your best foot forward every day to do the best you can and make the best of whatever life hands you. Lemons or lemonade. The kernel of wisdom for me in this piece of advice is not to stop worrying (because I think that is impossible) but that we should try to worry less about things we cannot change. Because in the end, we will end up where we end up, and (believe it or not) we will be fine.
3. “You don’t have to get your dream job immediately after graduation.”
An unabashedly honest take on the pharmacy job market for current graduates from one of the most inspirational women I know in the profession. This is one of those statements you get in life at just the right time (when you need to hear it) and I still find its eye-popping honesty, both liberating and exhilarating, and here is why: We probably wouldn’t do a very good job at our dream jobs (assuming we know what our dream jobs are out of the graduation gate) without a little bit of practice first. Practice makes perfect. You need to build the skill set necessary to do that job right, and that isn’t going to happen overnight, as that level of competency takes time. And you may find that your dream job looks a little bit different than you thought after you have worked in the trenches for a few years. Just because you accept one job, doesn’t mean you have to stay there forever. I can’t think of a single pharmacist I know who has only held one job in their career…In fact, the most successful pharmacists I know have held many jobs in many different areas, and they have used these skills to land their “dream jobs” decades after graduation. Decades. So there is time, don’t worry.
4. “Try and keep everything in balance”
These were words of wisdom from a preceptor who sadly shook his head after hearing about my crazy schedule, reminding me that a life without balance can be a very sad and lonely place. Pharmacy school is demanding: It is demanding on us as students and it is demanding on those who love us. We would not be where we are without the loving support of the spouses, family, and friends on whom we have relied upon for strength, courage, and sacrifice during our time in the program. I have often told my husband that this degree is equal parts his as mine, although he gets none of the formal credit for carrying me the past four years. This is the reason that 99% of my classmates recognized their family and friends for making their Pharm.D. degrees possible at graduation. It is relatively easy to lose perspective on the important things when one is really busy and swamped with work, projects, rotations, homework, and the weight of our own expectations. But our loved ones keep us grounded and remind us that life is bigger than this little wrinkle of time which is pharmacy school. Having a life outside of pharmacy school is healthy and essential. My advice is try and make the time for the people in your life who you care about (and who care about you) and for the things that you love to do. Even if it is just a little bit of time each week. You will be a happier and healthier person for it and a more successful pharmacy student.
5. “Be bold.”
Two words: “Be bold.” These words came from ASHP President Diane Ginsburg in her opening remarks to participants at the PPMI conference this past November. In the spirit of her message, this is also my advice to pass along to you. Be bold: Make the most of every opportunity that you have to learn and grow. Be fearless: Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort and try something you have never done before. Be courageous: Challenge yourself to stretch a little bit further than you thought you could go. Be brave: The road ahead may be paved with challenges and unforeseen detours, but you will rise to meet these opportunities with grace, wisdom, and determination. I have no doubt that you will succeed.
Pharmacy school has been an amazing journey. My most heartfelt thanks to my husband, parents, friends, preceptors, and mentors who have supported me so graciously and unselfishly the past four years, so that I might stand a little bit higher on their collective shoulders.
#mentors #NewPractitioners #PharmacyStudents #graduation #Mentorship #InpatientCarePractitioner #Preceptors #Resident #pharmacyschool