Doc Diary: Nurturing Dreams Beyond Lab Coats - The Final Countdown

With exactly two weeks left until I start my first day of pharmacy school, I couldn’t be more excited. The nerves have yet to kick in because I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. My Doctor of Pharmacy program has a hybrid curriculum, so it is partially online and partially in person. Thankfully, this doesn’t require me to relocate. Instead, I'll be traveling out of state to visit my school for an in-person requirement, and then I’ll return home to do my clinicals locally when that time comes.

After getting accepted, there was more work to do. I've been busy all summer completing various requirements, including:

• Finalizing prerequisite courses:

• Psychology

• Microeconomics

• Organic Chemistry II lab

• Completing immunizations

• Identity verifications

But now, I am finally here.

As the start date approaches, I’ve been busy organizing travel plans for myself and my family, who will visit once I get there. First up is orientation, and on the last day, we have our partners and family join us for the White Coat Ceremony. This ceremony is a "rite of passage for students entering the medical profession," according to the AAMC. In other words, it's a celebration and an oath to go through our careers with integrity and respect for humankind.

In the past week, I’ve managed to check off several items from my to-do list:

• Booked a car rental

• Reserved my hotel

• Secured an Airbnb for when my family comes

• Purchased plane tickets (months in advance)

The last detail I need to figure out is where my dog will stay. For shorter trips, I usually opt for:

• Dog boarding

• Having him stay with a trusted friend

We’ll see which option works best this time.

Another exciting part of my preparations has been buying new outfits for my trip. During welcome week, we have several events that require different dress codes, ranging from casual to business professional. I’m looking forward to dressing up and making a great first impression.

My goals for this visit are to:

• Familiarize myself with the expectations and requirements of pharmacy school

• Meet some friends and study buddies

• Join some organizations (and hopefully become a board member)

For the year ahead, my academic goal is to maintain an A GPA, ideally between 3.8 and 4.0. I also have a scholarship that requires me to keep a GPA above 3.0, or a B average, so I’m determined to exceed that.

Thank you for following along on this journey with me. Stay tuned for more updates as I embark on this exciting new chapter in my life. Your support means the world to me!