Open the door to new opportunities
Jessica Schuchardt is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Starting at a new school is never easy, and pharmacy school is no exception. With a new school comes new challenges, opportunities, friendships, and information overload. From the beginning you jump into a heavy courseload and need to balance that with learning about all of the organizations and opportunities your school has to offer. All of this can be overwhelming, and you may feel as though you don’t have time for anything else.
However, joining organizations like APhA–ASP early is essential. They can provide you with an array of benefits as you go through pharmacy school and beyond. Here are some of the benefits of joining a pharmacy organization.
Setting myself up for success
From the day you step foot on campus, you will hear everyone say that pharmacy is a small world. You might not believe this at first, since there are more than 300,000 pharmacists in the United States on top of all of the student pharmacists; however, as you start to get to know your professors, colleagues, and fellow students, you start to realize that everybody knows somebody. Not only does joining an organization allow you to start growing your network, it also instantly pairs you with like-minded students who can be your mentors and friends throughout pharmacy school and beyond.
For me, coming in as a first-year student pharmacist, I was unsure of how to set myself up for success in school, but I knew I wanted to pursue a residency. I joined multiple organizations, including APhA–ASP, and met many third-year students who were willing to share their wisdom with me. They took me under their wings, and through their guidance and connections I now know that I will be successful throughout school and that I am setting myself up well for a residency. I would have never learned the things I did without them as my mentors, and it is something I continue to do for incoming students.
On top of building connections, joining an organization opens doors to leadership positions and new opportunities. Many organizations have positions for first-year students, so you have the chance to get your feet wet and grow as a leader in your organization without feeling overloaded with the responsibility. Even if you don't think you want a leadership position, joining an organization and being an active member allows you to build relationships and skills that help you once elections come in the spring.
Why I value my APhA–ASP membership
Organizations such as APhA–ASP put on a wide variety of events every year that can introduce you to experiences you have never had before. These can lead to personal development, new skills, and even potential career paths. Experience is the best teacher, and organizations allow you to apply the lessons you are learning in the classroom.
Through my APhA–ASP membership, I have been able to interact with different types of people from all ages and backgrounds in the Baltimore community. APhA–ASP has provided me with so many unique outreach opportunities and learning experiences that I wouldn’t necessarily get in the classroom, such as speaking with children about the importance of exercise or working with a nursing home to screen patients for high-risk medications. As a result, I feel more confident about interacting with patients, and am excited to take these skills and connections with me as I move forward into my third year of pharmacy school and then on to rotations.
Starting pharmacy school can be an overwhelming experience, and it may seem as though you have no time to get involved in anything more. However, joining an organization can not only give you a built-in support system, but also open the door to many new connections and opportunities.