Sydney Tu, National President

Hi, everyone! I was born and raised in Southern California but have called St. Louis, MO, my home for the last 6 years. I am currently a final-year student pharmacist at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. I have been actively involved with APhA–ASP since my third prepharmacy year, serving as my chapter’s Generation Rx Vice Chair. Since then, I have served as Chapter President-elect, as well as President the following year. Regionally, I held the role of Region 6 Midyear Regional Meeting (MRM) Coordinator for MRM2018. I have also had the tremendous honor of serving as the 2018 APhA Carl F. Emswiller Summer Intern in Association Management in Washington, DC. 

I am excited to have the opportunity to serve you for another year as your National President. I am most looking forward to working with the APhA–ASP National Executive Committee (NEC) and engaging with you all across the country to continue envisioning a future for our Academy and profession. During my leisure time, I enjoy traveling, brunching, and trying new cuisines; watching shows on Hulu and Netflix; and exercising my creativity through artwork.

My roommate and I were looking over our resumes recently as we were starting to apply for internships. One of our other roommates was nice enough to review our resumes and make sure they were presentable. After reading through my roommate’s resume, he noted, “It looks good, but you’re going to have to get rid of a couple of things to keep it to one page.” He then took a glance at my resume and concluded, “It looks fine, but you’re going to have to add a few things to make it about one page.”

These observations hammered home a key realization for me: I have done next to nothing over the past 2 years. I have spent nearly all of my time studying, and my grades reflected that. I wasn’t necessarily the smartest student, I just had more time than everyone else to put into my studies. Don’t get me wrong. Classes are important and the reason we are going to school in the first place. However, despite the sheer amount of time I spent studying, I didn’t feel like I knew more than any other student, especially by the time the exam was a week in the rearview mirror. More importantly, I felt like I had no transferable experience heading into my first internship. I realized I needed to take advantage of all the opportunities that Northeastern University had to offer while I had the chance.

Interview with: Kathryn Albert, University of South Florida

1. As you reflect on your student pharmacist experience thus far, what are some of your favorite memories?
When I started my journey as a student pharmacist, I didn’t have a single clue what to expect. I was so naïve about all that the profession had to offer; until I found APhA–ASP. I would be lying if I told you that most of my favorite memories didn’t involve APhA–ASP. Whilst reflecting on this question, I have found that it is very difficult to choose my top memories. Each one lightens up a different area of my heart. But I will say the memories that brought the most joy are those involving attending the Region 3 Midyear Regional Meetings (MRM).  

As first-year student pharmacists, my friends and I did everything we could to get involved. We all wanted so badly to find what we identified with most at USF and as a student pharmacist. One day, our APhA–ASP Chapter President at the time, Matthew Noble, approached us during lunch and asked if we were going to attend the Region 3 MRM. We all just sort of stared at each other waiting for the other person to make a decision. Is it worth the money? Would we have fun? So many questions running through our head. But, shortly after, we were all signed up and more excited than ever. 

Interview with: Connor Anderson, Ferris State University

1. As you reflect on your student pharmacist experience thus far, what are some of your favorite memories?
The memories I have made over these past few years as a student pharmacist I will cherish forever. The most unforgettable among them were the laughs shared and time spent with my roommates Anton, Richie, Ricky, Sam, Brandon, Kris, and Gene. Traveling to extraordinary locations for APhA–ASP to meet new friends and future colleagues also tops out my list. Working with my fellow APhA–ASP Region 4 Regional Officers Alex Hutchinson and Allyson Beechy, as well as regional and national officers across the country, has been the privilege of a lifetime. Pharmacy school has taken me to some unexpected and unique places—all it really took to make a memory last was being present with those by my side.

2. Pharmacy school is demanding, especially when you add on additional activities. How do you manage all of your responsibilities?
Looking back on all that I have done in pharmacy school, I am perplexed at how I survived. I held three different leadership positions and have just begun a fourth on the APhA–ASP National Awards Standing Committee, maintained two pharmacy internships for my first 2 years before transitioning to a different intern role in my third year, and have pursued an MBA alongside my PharmD. The thing that kept me sane through it all was taking things one day at a time. I always had a long-term goal as my guiding light. After that, getting lost in the learning process and allowing myself time to have fun in between the chaos gave me the mental capacity to power through even the busiest of times.

Interview with: Matthew Broadwater, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

1. As you reflect on your student pharmacist experience thus far, what are some of your favorite memories?
My favorite memories in pharmacy school revolve around people that I have interacted with. This includes the lifelong friendships I formed, mentors who have given me endless time and advice, inspiring classmates and APhA members I have met, and rewarding interactions with patients. Establishing relationships with people are what have defined my awesome experiences as a student pharmacist.

2. Pharmacy school is demanding, especially when you add on additional activities. How do you manage all of your responsibilities?
I am a huge advocate for Microsoft Outlook Calendar! I use this calendar for all of my obligations including, most importantly, time for myself. Workout? Goes into my calendar. Dinner or a movie with friends? Yup, that too is going into the calendar. It is a little over the top placing all these smaller things into my calendar, but by putting my personal obligations into my calendar, it ensures I don’t budge on taking time out of my day to do things I want. Since I have implemented this system, it has greatly improved by mental health and my capacity to take on more professional obligations by being well balanced.