Success does not come as a one-size-fits-all

By Paige Greene

One of the commonalities student pharmacists have all experienced is the gut-wrenching feeling of failure. We have failed exams, failed relationships, and failed to take proper care of ourselves (who needs sleep, anyway?). Unfortunately, all of that is to be expected; failure comes with the territory of entering a competitive graduate program. Something I was not prepared for, however, was feeling like I had failed myself. Student pharmacists have been ingrained to believe success is a subjective goal, but despite that perspective, I have still found myself devastated by rejection and left writhing in the feeling of failure.

Throughout my didactic training, I was heavily involved: I pursued research, served as Patient Care Vice President of my chapter, attended countless conferences, volunteered at a refugee clinic, and the list goes on. I envisioned myself as a leader in pharmacy. But this dignified image of myself came to a screeching halt when I received an e-mail stating that I had been rejected from Phi Lambda Sigma ... for the second time. I felt humiliated as I congratulated my friends, and even my own mentees, as they accepted their offers to join. I spent the next several weeks, day in and day out, grooming through my CV trying to find where I had failed.

My confidence was shaken as I was about to begin my APPE rotations. I feared this rejection was going to jeopardize my candidacy as a prospective pharmacy resident.

My CV, my memoir

I was so stuck on the idea that this membership was vital to my career because I had watched other successful students obtain this achievement. After I flipped through the six pages of my CV for the millionth time, I realized that I had accumulated six pages worth of experiences throughout my pharmacy school career. My CV had turned into my memoir, a compilation of my greatest memories.

I have cared for patients from Tennessee to Nepal, coached other student pharmacists through their hardest days, and authored a policy proposal that could help shape the future of pharmacy. All me. All successes. I realized that my exclusion from Phi Lambda Sigma is reconcilable because my CV is filled with examples of how I have proven my passion for this profession. Instead of searching for faults, I have been working to celebrate what I did during my training and move beyond my perceived failures.

Reflect on opportunities

I am slowly learning that success is not defined by an award, a recognition, or a membership. Instead, your success is dependent on the satisfaction you have earned from the experiences you have had. Nevertheless, this lesson does not exclude me from still falling victim to feelings of inadequacy. I do believe, though, one way to achieve validation of self-worth is by reflecting on your opportunities. Pharmacy school is filled with time constraints coupled with unpredictabilities. When you are knee-deep in the trenches, it is so hard to take the time to recognize all of the remarkable milestones you are achieving, even unbeknownst to you.

The good news is there are a lot of ways you can reflect! You can keep a journal, write a song, or even compulsively edit your CV on a weekly basis—as long as you are taking the time to positively reflect on the impact you are making.

Becoming a successful pharmacist

That being said, I am also learning how vital it is to understand that success does not come as a one-size-fits-all. How I succeed in my career may look very different than how you define success in yours. The beautiful thing about pharmacy is that there is not just one way to be a successful pharmacist; there are many avenues you can take to make an impact on your patients and this profession. Perhaps the greatest success you can achieve is demonstrating the will to seize opportunities that will help you attain your own, individual goals.

So rush a fraternity, apply for an internship, or train for a marathon. Your character and unique qualities will be revealed through your passions. It is your journey of success, and how you identify your contributions to this profession is all you need to validate your worth.