So far, I’ve announced this on all of my other social media except for my blog. But I’m officially a fourth-year pharmacy student, which means I only have 9 APPE’s (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences) before I graduate with my doctorate degree! It’s such an exciting and nervous time in my life. I almost can’t believe that my college years are almost done, but before I get too caught up in my rotations, I wanted to share with you 5 lessons that I’ve learned during my third year in pharmacy school.
Lesson #1: Prioritize your time and your sanity
When I first got into pharmacy school, I tried my hardest to be involved in everything from multiple organizations, volunteer events, and even attending all of the conferences in the area. I was literally going to events and meetings just because. There was no rhyme or reason other than to beef up my resume and to put myself out there in the profession. Not a terrible plan for a P1 student, but in my third year, I knew I needed to reel it back in and prioritize my time a lot better. This year I really focused on developing my passions, learning about myself, and learning how to manage my busy lifestyle. The result? I passed all of my classes with stellar grades and even though I was stressed, I was happy. I was happy in my relationship, happy with my school work, and even happier at work.
Pro tip: Put yourself first and learn how to manage your time from the get-go. Your mental health should be your number one priority outside of passing your classes.
Lesson #2: Learn how you study and stick with it
My P3 year was really the year that I finally learned how to study effectively for myself. During my first two years of pharmacy school, I was attempting to study like my classmates and friends, and it just wasn’t working out for me. I would study all night and flip through Quizlets until I was so tired the next morning my brain hurt. This year, I tried a few different study techniques until I found one that really worked for me and my schedule. For those that are wondering, I do really well when I write my own homemade notes to review as well as re-reading the material over and over again until it becomes second nature. The consistent review of the material every day really suits me, and it’s been working pretty well for me so far.
It takes time to find out what studying method works for you so make the time to re-learn how you study. The way that you studied in high school or during your undergrad years won’t be the same as in pharmacy school. Pharmacy school is just a totally different beast and it takes a different way of studying to conquer it. Check out this post on some of my favorite study tips!
Lesson #3: Find your passions and develop them
I mentioned earlier that this year that I focused on developing my passions, and this is even more important during your third year in pharmacy school. You’re almost done with school, and it’s getting closer to graduation time, where you’ll have to decide what career path you’ll go down. You have to start preparing for the finale now! This year I dove head first into compounding, my first love, and business, my second love. I attended a few compounding and entrepreneurial-type courses, some in my city and others that had to travel for, and I really just enjoyed all of my experiences this year. By doing these experiences, I was able to grow my knowledge and network with my fellow students and pharmacists at the events.
P3 year is all about finding yourself and figuring out what your interests are, even if you aren’t positive on your career path. Find the time in your busy schedule to do just that. Try new things, take new adventures, and be open to new situations to find your passions. Because once you do, you can then develop them.
Lesson #4: Develop your professional network
You’ve probably heard this before, but pharmacy is a small world. Everyone knows everyone so it’s super important to start developing your professional network while you’re in school. When I first started out, I carried around business cards to hand out to anyone that I met during a conference, meetings, and even on my rotations. I would then also try to keep the connections alive by regularly stopping by the person’s office or checking in through email. It’s the small chats you had over breakfast that could later land you your first job.
Step out of your comfort zone, especially if you haven’t already in your first two years and meet new faces. You can also create a Linkedin profile and start making connections through that platform. But only add people that you actually know or have spoked with before otherwise it’s a little creepy to be adding random strangers on the app.
Photos by Brailey Johnson Photography
Lesson #5: Make time for yourself
Your number one priority in pharmacy school, outside of your school work, is your mental health. My first year I literally spent every waking moment studying, doing school work, or making Quizlets study guides. This year I knew I couldn’t live my life like that anymore. I was burning myself out, and I didn’t even realize it until now. Instead I would take an hour or two each day to do something that I enjoyed, either watching my favorite shows on Hulu or going for a walk with Ava or something else. I even made time each week for date nights, which definitely helped keep my relationship strong.
Even when your schedule is jammed packed, remember to carve out some time for yourself every single day. It could be just fifteen minutes or even two hours. Then spend that time doing something that you enjoy and that brings you some peace of mind. Do a face mask or dance in your bedroom to your favorite song. Just take a break whenever you can.
My third year in pharmacy school was definitely a learning year for me. I learned so much about myself in terms of how I study, what I needed for my mental health, and what I needed in my relationships. Hopefully you can learn from my stories and the lessons that I’ve learned over the year to help prepare you for whatever year that you are in pharmacy school.
You might also like: 5 Tips to Help You Stay Motivated While in Pharmacy School, The Millennial’s Guide to Time Management, and What to Do if You Fail a Class in Pharmacy School
