Eddie Mueller (left) and friend/tennis teammate Declan Merbeth have some fun at a street painting event prior to the annual Drake Relays.
By Eddie Mueller
If you approached me in August 2014 during my first days of college at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and told me that I would be where I am today, I would have thought you had me mistaken for a different student. Yet here I am, having completed the last of my didactic coursework and headed for rotations as a highly involved student, both inside and outside of the classroom, who has learned balance is the key to success.
Taking advantage of opportunities
Drake University continues to surprise me with the opportunities it provides for students, and I have devoted a significant amount of time to several of them.
I believe my recognition of all the possibilities that are available for leadership in professional organizations comes from being the Chairperson of Drake Pharmacy (Rx) Unified Group of Students, dubbed D.Rx.U.G.S. Think of D.Rx.U.G.S. as an umbrella organization that oversees other pharmacy organizations on campus. My role as Chairperson has inspired me to encourage younger, pre-pharmacy, and current student pharmacists to become involved and engaged in the profession so they can benefit earlier from experiences that will impact the direction they take in their schooling and pharmacy career.
This endeavor stems from how I recognize my participation in many of these associations will support my own professional and personal growth. As Chapter Operation Diabetes Chair, I have been able to support the Drake and greater Des Moines communities by performing hundreds of blood glucose and blood pressure screenings and counseling patients on their results. Seeing gaps that existed in the care in our area, I sought to establish a partnership between Drake pharmacy and Drake athletics as we performed the first health screening at a women’s basketball game, successfully intertwining awareness for athletics, wellness, and pharmacy.
In addition, I am fortunate to share my passion for the profession as a Student Ambassador for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Student Representative on the National Advisory Council (NAC). Both of these roles have allowed me to expand my communication skills and understanding of the profession. Being a Student Ambassador involves sharing my experiences with prospective students and expressing to them what it means to be a student at Drake. As Student Representative on the NAC, I communicate with devoted alumni on aspects of my education and provide my input from the current student perspective.
I get by with a little help from my friends
Despite the amount of time I spend on my professional involvement, I contribute a majority of my success as a student to balancing time spent with my close friends amongst academic responsibilities. I acknowledge that the people I consider to be my close inner circle of friends greatly influence me as an individual. I am thankful to have friends that encourage me to not only be a successful student, but to also focus on my personal fitness, mental health, and meaningful social life. My advice to you is remember that individuals who may greatly contribute to your professional and personal development can be anyone and enter your life at any time.
As an example, throughout my past 5 years at Drake, tennis has been my outlet for the inevitable stress that comes with the intensity of a doctoral program. As President/Captain of the Club Tennis team, I have greatly enjoyed my time spent competing in various cities throughout the Midwest with other students studying various majors. Even as a senior, I became good friends with a freshman on the team who studies law, politics, and society. Balance to my sometimes very hectic life comes by having a close friend who can provide a unique perspective on life decisions that may or may not involve pharmacy because of his age and interests.
As a student pharmacist, I am thankful that I am able to take a step back when needed, recognize that I have other personal interests, and remember there is a world outside of pharmacy where I have other people who support me.
My successes in involvement, leadership, and academics would not be possible without having people who are looking out for my best interests. Always be open and willing to commit to people and the opportunities they propose. If you accept and then find that someone or something does not align with your personal or professional goals, there is always a way to walk away respectfully. I would not be where I am today if I wasn’t willing to try something new.