I decided to end this blog as my fourth and final year of
pharmacy school comes to a close. After my African adventures, I spent two
months in Pittsburgh, flying under the radar with family and friends. I also
completed my last pharmacy rotation at a nearby independent community pharmacy.
The laid-back and friendly site was the perfect way to round out my pharmacy
education.
It is hard to believe that my fourth year of pharmacy school
has already come and gone. On one hand, it seems to have passed quickly; on the
other, my first transplant rotation last May seems like it was ages ago. It’s even
harder to believe that I am finally finished with my college education. Two
years of undergraduate studies followed immediately by four years of pharmacy
graduate work was enough for me to feel burnt out by the end. More than ever, I
am ready for a change. I am eager to leave my days as a student behind, and
move forward to take on the responsibilities of a pharmacist.
So what does that look like exactly? Well, if you remember,
I decided to pursue a pharmacy career with the military after my rotation with
the Coast Guard last fall. That remains my current long-term goal. However, the
application process is slow and competitive, so I made a decision to head west in
the meantime. Originally, I booked a flight to visit my sister, Anna, and her
husband, Alex, in Denver this spring. Eventually, this trip turned into my crazy
idea to stay indefinitely. After all, I had already wrapped up everything at
Pitt and had no desire to attend graduation.
I will admit that my decision is risky (i.e., relocating
without a job or apartment), but I am excited to get out on my own and seek new
adventures, finally free from my university ties. Before you start worrying, I
do have a tentative plan for my fresh start in Denver. I will stay with Anna
and Alex for a few weeks while I search for a studio apartment downtown.
Hopefully, I can support myself through part-time hourly work, while I study
for my pharmacy licensing exams. If all goes well, I will be licensed this
summer, at which point I will search for employment opportunities to gain
pharmacy experience—ideally in an independent community pharmacy. I still
intend to submit my application to become a military pharmacy officer, but I
also realize the beauty in keeping my options open. If things are going well in
Denver, there is no need to rush into joining the military, especially when I
can apply the following year.
So that’s my speculative plan for the next few months or so,
but I realize that life changes on a dime. I intend to take one step at a time,
and remain open to accepting new opportunities if and when they come knocking.
It may sounds cheesy, but today feels like the first day of the rest of my
life. I have a one-way ticket to Denver, and my most important possessions
shoved into two suitcases. I am wildly optimistic about what lies ahead—in
Denver and wherever life takes me after that—never loosing sight of where I’ve
come from.
Stay tuned for a new blog about my next chapter in Denver!
