Failing is definitely something that nobody wants to do, but it can happen, and you might be in a situation one day that you need to know how to move forward. I’m not afraid or ashamed to say that I’ve failed a class in pharmacy school before. It was one of the reasons that I had to take a break from blogging so that I could focus on school. I want to tell you….you’re not alone and its okay if you fail a class! The only thing that you can do now is to learn how to move forward and learn from your past mistakes.
Identify what caused you to fail
One of the first things you need to do after failing a class is recognize the problems or situations that lead you to failing. Was it because you weren’t studying enough or not studying correctly for the type of test that you needed to pass? Or are you having a hard time focusing in class or during the test due to health issues? Are you dealing with something completely different outside of school? Once you identified what was the problem, it’s time to fix it. Truly break it down and fix the problem.
If the problem is that you’re not studying enough or not spending enough time on the material, well you gotta make time to do so. For me personally, I do so much better on exams when I read over the material multiple times in different formats, such as with study groups, watching educational videos, rewatching the class over again, or just reading the notes over and over again. But if it’s other problems, definitely speak to a counselor on campus or a medical professional that you trust and can confine in so that you can get the help that you need. Your health is the most important part of your entire life, and you need to take care of yourself first before anything else.
Make a plan about how you’re going to do better
Now it’s time to make a change. You can’t expect to not fail another class if you don’t make a change to fix the problem that caused you to fail the first one. Take the time to sit down and write down on paper what you want to do different in the upcoming semester. When I failed my first class, I had to sit myself down and figure out what I was doing wrong. You know what mine was? Time management. I was adding things to my plate without taking anything off my plate to balance it all out. I had to set back from a lot of things that I was involved in just so that I could focus on school, which is my main priority is my education so that I can one day walk away from school with my doctorate degree.
Write down everything that you have on your plate and list of habits that you noticed throughout the semester that might’ve been a problem, such as working too many hours at your job, partying every weekend with friends, or not sleeping enough the night before an exam. Once you’ve written down your issues, you can then create a plan that’s going to work with you and allow you to be successful. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to things because you can’t do everything. You have to pick and choose what you want to focus on and what’s really worth your time and energy. Trust me, your time is priceless, especially in pharmacy school. There’s just so much to get done and not enough time in the world. Prioritize, Prioritize, and prioritize some more!
Learn how to study more effectively
Once you figured out the problem that might be causing you to fail, it’s also time to readjust and relearn how to study, because obviously what you were previously doing isn’t working anymore. Pharmacy school studying vs undergrad studying is two different types of beasts. I didn’t have to study that much in undergrad to get good grades. Just read the notes a few times and I was good. But now I can’t just read the notes. I have to rewatch the class recordings, watching Youtube videos on the topic, study in groups, etc. So find out what works for you and what allows the material to stick in your brain. While you’re studying though, don’t forget that you’ll actually need to know this information later on. So don’t just memorize it for the test and then lose it as soon as you walk out of the classroom.
Some studying tips that have worked for me during my time in pharmacy school are:
- study in 20 minute increments with a 10 minute break in-between
- rewatch the lecture recordings (if your school has them)
- study in a group
- create a practice exam for yourself to take of the most important points
- use Quizlet as electronic flashcard or practice quiz
- or hand make flash cards
Relax and take a breath
Make sure that you take some time to relax, breathe a little, and get your mind back focused before jumping back into school. Winter break, Thanksgiving break, or spring break are perfect times to take a breather and get revengize for the upcoming or the remainder of the semester. Do a spa day or do a weekend getaway just to relax and have fun with friends and family. I promise you won’t do better if you’re super stressed out and not living your best life (of course, in moderation).
My favorite ways to relax are: shopping, walking my dog Ava, watching my favorite shows on Hulu or Netflix, or having a fun date night with my boyfriend Titi. Do something that you enjoy and something that you can easily do to help you chillax some, especially before something stressful like an exam.
Listen, I’ve been in your same shoes, but you can get back on track by doing a few simple tasks such as letting go, refocusing, and taking charge of your new action plan. It’s not the end of the world if you fail a class. It’s about the next step moving forward. Good luck and I’ll keep you in my wishes!
You may also like: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned in My Third Year of Pharmacy School, 5 Tips to Stay Motivated in Pharmacy School, and The Subtle Art of Acing Your Pharmacy Rotations on the First Day
