Mauli Maniar and Monika Szeliga are third-year PharmD candidates at the Jefferson College of Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University.
Pharmacy school can be quite rigorous, but setting aside time for personal growth remains essential. We have chosen to dedicate part of our personal growth time to learning Spanish. By sharing our journey, others may be inspired to prioritize personal development and perhaps even take on the challenge of learning a new language.
Mauli’s journey
At the beginning of this year, I decided to learn Spanish as a hobby. I downloaded Duolingo (a language learning application) on my phone to learn conversational terms while in pharmacy school. Without realizing my accomplishments, I proudly completed more than 227 days of the course.
Every day, I spend less than 10 minutes of my time on Duolingo. It helps me forget about the stressors in my life and immerse myself in learning a new skill. I feel ecstatic knowing I am achieving my goals of becoming more fluent in Spanish to communicate with my friends, community members, and future patients.
As a multilingual immigrant, I aim to embrace inclusivity and equality within pharmacy by offering educational medication classes in multiple languages. I want patients to feel comfortable and engaged in their health care. Connecting with patients is essential to help patients confidently manage their medications effectively, thus increasing patient satisfaction and appreciation of my profession.
Monika’s experience
Coming from an immigrant family has also shaped my interest in learning new languages. Speaking Polish at home and attending English as a second language classes at school deepened my appreciation for linguistics. Recently, my interest in learning Spanish was inspired by my partner’s family, further driving my desire to connect through language. By dedicating time to study Spanish amid a rigorous academic schedule, I hope to show genuine appreciation for such a remarkable culture.
Learning a new language requires consistency, time, and effort, especially while balancing pharmacy school. For a while, I struggled in my journey to become proficient in Spanish. However, I have recently made steady progress, thanks to the Duolingo app. Now, I am excited to announce that I am approaching 250 days of learning Spanish, setting aside just 5 to 15 minutes each day. This progress has also been made possible with the support of my classmate, Mauli. Learning alongside her has kept me accountable and motivated me to be consistent.
Additionally, I recognized how this experience can influence my career goals. Language can be seen as a tool to communicate with patients and bridge gaps in health care, which is incredibly rewarding. In turn, I hope to continue making progress, so I can one day make a meaningful impact.
Never miss a day of learning
Learning a new language can be challenging. However, it offers an opportunity to connect and bridge gaps in pharmacy. That is how we became friends! We both motivate each other on the Duolingo app and never miss a day of learning. There are advantages to being proficient in multiple languages for student pharmacists to provide holistic and compassionate care to a diverse patient population.