Mallory Kruse is a third-year PharmD candidate at The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.
The start of the new year can be a great time for reflection and setting new goals.
In the past, I have never really made New Year’s resolutions for myself, especially not ones I have stuck with. In pharmacy school, it is easy to become caught up in how I’m possibly going to study enough for the next exam, becoming a competitive candidate for a dream job or residency, or if I’ll be able to finish that assignment after work. It can all be very overwhelming and make me lose focus on the things that are the most important in my life. While I am working toward making a good life in the future, I do not want to sacrifice the present.
This year, I have decided making New Year's resolutions would be a good way to be more intentional in strengthening my relationships and, in turn, my well-being.
Keeping my relationships strong through communication
While student pharmacists are told to prioritize health and well-being during pharmacy school, I believe that it is easier said than done. One of the ways that I want to work on this is by connecting more with family and friends.
Many of my friends and family live far from me, but without them, I would not be able to get through pharmacy school. They are so important to me and always listen when I need to talk, and I want them to know how much I appreciate them too. Therefore, my first resolution is to call or text my family and friends at least once a week. Some people may find this easy, but for me, this can be especially difficult during a stressful or busy time. I think these relationships are very important for my well-being and I also want to be there for other people more.
While balancing school, work, and everything else life throws at me is difficult, I do not want to let that negatively affect my relationships with the people I love.
Empowering the executive board to serve our members
While my first resolution is more personal, I also want to focus on developing our chapter. As the current president, my goal has been to offer our members programming that aligns with what they want and what aligns with APhA’s mission. While I believe I am achieving this with the help of other executive board members and collaborations with other student organizations through things such as advocacy meetings, leadership workshops, and health fairs, my New Year’s resolution for my chapter is to empower the executive board to do the best they can to serve our members in each of their roles. I want to be more open to new ideas and let them be creative to become better leaders for our chapter.
One way that I am excited to do this is through our annual Spring Gala. Every year, our chapter hosts a black-tie gala for students and faculty to celebrate our accomplishments, and this year I want to involve the board more in planning the event, from the decorations to the raffle prizes. It is an event that students look forward to the whole year, and I know that involvement from the other board members can make it an even more special night. I believe that this will also help me become a better leader by letting go of having all of the control, and I know that my fellow board members can do so much to make our chapter better.
I want this chapter to be able to offer the same amazing experiences to students in the future as it has offered me, and through the help of my board members, I think we can inspire future leaders to make that happen for years to come.