Beginning again at a new school
Kap Paull is a third-year student pharmacist at the Mercer University College of Pharmacy and a member of the 2025–2026 APhA–ASP National Policy Standing Committee.
In June 2023, I stood at a crossroads: Should I stay in a pharmacy program where my mental health was crumbling or take a leap into uncertainty and transfer? Transferring pharmacy schools isn’t something most people do.
I did.
Finding hope
When 2023 began, I was in my second semester of my first year of pharmacy school. From the outside, everything looked great. I had my own apartment, a long-distance boyfriend, multiple jobs, good grades, and active involvement in professional organizations. Beneath that perfect picture, I was struggling. I was exhausted, anxious, and lonely. My family and partner were far away, and I had trouble connecting with classmates who all seemed to have a built-in support system.
On the day of my white coat ceremony in January 2023, my stress and anxiety finally caught up with me. I developed such severe stomach pain that I ended up in the hospital. That moment made me realize how unsustainable my situation had become. I needed to make a change.
During conversations with my classmates, I discovered that their sense of happiness wasn’t about having everything figured out, but rather it was about having someone in their corner. Many lived with family or close friends or had partners nearby. I had people who loved me deeply, but none of them were close enough to lean on day-to-day.
That summer, I started a community IPPE in Atlanta, where my partner lived. It was my first time working in an independent pharmacy, and I fell in love with the patients, the pace, and the genuine sense of community. My preceptor taught me about the realities of pharmacy practice, about PBM frustrations, and he reinforced the importance of advocacy. When he offered me a technician position after my rotation, I felt something I hadn’t felt in months: hope.
Thriving again
With encouragement from my family, friends, and partner, I decided to transfer. I reached out to the Mercer University College of Pharmacy and connected with the admissions director, Jordana, whose warmth and support made the process possible. By fall, I had packed up my life, moved to Atlanta, taken a gap semester, and started rebuilding. I worked full-time, got married, and prepared to re-enter pharmacy school at Mercer in January 2024.
My time off taught me what true resilience looks like. Pharmacy school is demanding, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. Whether it’s family, friends, mentors, or faith, having a network of support is vital to thriving, not just surviving.
Today, I’m thriving again. I work at the same independent pharmacy, serve on the APhA–ASP National Policy Standing Committee, and I hold leadership roles in other organizations. I also assist Mercer’s admissions department, where I recently helped welcome a new transfer student. She’s the first one since me! Talking with her felt like meeting my younger self, and I told her what I wish I’d known 2 years ago:
- It’s okay to start over.
- Support systems matter.
- You are not a quitter.
- You are not alone.
The path to success doesn’t have to be linear. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is begin again.