Discussing how debilitating preventable diseases can be is sometimes an uncomfortable conversation to have with people. Plus, who likes being stuck by a needle? At the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy, our Operation Immunization team has the challenge and privilege of educating the local community on the benefits of vaccinating and staying up to date with their vaccination schedule.

But how to do that with materials not considered “fun” or interesting? The time was right for a new team of superheroes to save the day.

“Congratulations!” my oncology professor beamed at me. A colorful array of emotions flooded my mind as the olive hood went over my head and my professor rested it upon my shoulders. I was finally a pharmacist. I was excited, in disbelief, nervous, and over the moon all at the same time. All my hard work culminated to this moment, and it was time to embark on a journey of new opportunities and challenges!

For many of you reading this right now, you may be experiencing the rigorous rotations of final year, or you may be a few years away from graduating. Either way, the road to your olive-hooding glory is a stressful, yet fulfilling, one. Your final year of pharmacy school is absolutely the year when you will grow the most as a professional, and for those of you already in the midst of your rotations, I would like to share a few helpful words of wisdom with you as you count down the days to that fateful moment!

Very often, you might think of health professionals and characterize them as logical, left-brained, methodical, and systematic. You might not see them as risk-takers, explorers, or creative-types. In reality, individuals that push the most innovation in any field, including health care, are all of the above.

One of my struggles in pharmacy school has been being unable to express my creativity. I grew up singing, playing guitar, loving theater, and being excited about art. My favorite books were mystery novels. However, I also love the sciences and pharmacy. There is no greater feeling than counseling a patient, seeing understanding spread across their face, and knowing their compliance will increase.

You never know when or where you will find your passion. For Charlie Broussard, BSPharm, MEd, FAPhA, it was in a sociology class at Memphis State University, back in 1970. “We were discussing the fact that we as a nation had become a ‘throwaway society.’ Basically, we were talking about the people who were referred to as addicts and how they were being ignored by society,” Broussard remembered. “I don’t know what it was, but something inside of me just lit up to start looking into this and start learning about where our throwaway society was in my area.”

His passion ignited, Broussard embarked on a prestigious career in the field of chemical dependency as an educator and counselor. Honored on the state, national, and international levels for his significant contributions to pharmacists in recovery, Broussard has become a beloved faculty member and co-host of the APhA Institute on Alcohol & Drug Dependencies. I had the privilege of watching him in action at the APhA Institute this past June, and it is an honor to include Charlie in our discussions as part of my “Embrace Your Calling” series.

Coming from a diverse neighborhood on the East Coast, I did not know what to expect as an Asian American attending pharmacy school at the Purdue University College of Pharmacy. Upon arriving in Indiana 5 years ago, I suddenly found myself in an environment where I quickly realized my identity as an Asian American made me different.

At first, it seemed as if I was different in a negative way, because I was forced to face several instances of microaggressions and racism. As time went on, however, I found a home in the Asian American community on campus and became a leader within various Asian-interest organizations. These organizations all served a common goal of creating a welcoming environment where Asian Americans could find people who shared common experiences, such as feeling stuck in between two cultures. While being different brought us together, being together helped us learn about the variety of cultures in the community.