I did well on the past midterms, and most of the assignments. But, this term has been WAY tougher...

Question:

I did well on the past midterms, and most of the assignments. But, this term has been WAY tougher than I expected. It's hard to imagine I will be doing this for four years...

Do you have any tips on staying motivated, and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?

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Response 1:

Hi there,

First term is pretty notorious for being hard. You have to adjust to a new way of studying, group of people, and environment. I understand that it can be tough to remember why you came to pharmacy school, or why you ever wanted to be a pharmacist in the first place. I found that the terms were easier as they progressed, but that is only my opinion.

The biggest tip I have is to try and see the big picture. School is four years (which is a pretty grueling and long tunnel), but try and build inspiration for your professional life outside of school. I like joining committees, volunteering, and attending conferences because that’s where you can really see the applicability of what you learn. It’s also pretty comforting to hear many pharmacists say that “school is not that important”. These are people who went through the same four years as you (or more) and who are thriving in the world of pharmacy. They know that school is just a necessary tool for a greater end-goal. Another great motivation is co-op. I know that first year seems like it’s taking forever, but soon enough you will be able to use those some skills you learned during school in a real work environment.

Lastly, remember to take it easy! Taking time for yourself is incredibly important. Maybe you love pharmacy so much you want to make all your extracurriculars related to healthcare, or maybe you need downtime from the concentrated pharmacy life. Either route (or a mix) is a great option! Four years will whip by before you know it.

Response 2: Hello! I remember 1st year was quite a challenging marathon when I was in your shoes, and I relate strongly to the same situation you are in. I remember asking everyone “how do you keep up, knowing that it gets harder?”. I found my answer and it was co-op and increasing level of relevant study material. 1st year is the first and last time you will have to do introductory courses like anatomy and have 3 terms in a row in pharmacy school: it can get tough. However, when you start 2A, and thus IPFC, you will find that things get much more relevant. You learn about health conditions instead of bones/muscles and treatment regimens instead of calculations. I’m not saying anatomy is irrelevant, but IPFC just felt much more relevant and thus a lot more interesting to study. Co-op was definitely the light at the end of my tunnel though, as you get an exciting opportunity to go in the real world and be a pharmacy student for the first time to practise what you learn at school and acquire even more practical knowledge (while getting paid too!). It was definitely a very much needed refreshing change of pace. Once you're past 1st year you never spend more than 1 term studying in a row. I kept remembering that and it really did help me treat first year like an exception, because it's not the way it will be for the next 4 years. Hope this helps!