I still remember my first day walking into pharmacy college excited, nervous, and if I’m being honest, more than a little lost about what the coming years would actually involve. Back then, pharmacy seemed like a world filled with complicated drug names, dense chemistry, and never-ending textbooks.
At that point, my only goal was passing exams. I genuinely believed good grades were the whole point of the journey. But as the years went by, I began to understand that college was teaching me things no syllabus could capture.
Long hours in the lab quietly built my patience. Standing up for seminars pushed me to become more comfortable speaking in front of people. Group projects taught me what real teamwork looks like, and practical sessions made it click that every medicine carries a story from how it’s formulated to how it actually affects the human body.
What I appreciate most, looking back, is how much my mindset evolved. Somewhere along the way, I stopped studying just to survive exams and started learning because I actually wanted to understand things. I began asking why instead of just memorizing what. That one shift changed everything about how I approached the subject.
Now, having completed my M.Pharm and working in medical information and healthcare, I can honestly say every assignment, every viva, every late night study, and even every mistake played a part in shaping who I am today.
It wasn’t always a smooth road, but it was absolutely worth it. And honestly, the learning never really stops.
If you could go back and give your first-day-of-college self one piece of advice, what would it be? I’d genuinely love to hear it.
MBH/PS