One of the commonalities student pharmacists have all experienced is the gut-wrenching feeling of failure. We have failed exams, failed relationships, and failed to take proper care of ourselves (who needs sleep, anyway?). Unfortunately, all of that is to be expected; failure comes with the territory of entering a competitive graduate program. Something I was not prepared for, however, was feeling like I had failed myself. Student pharmacists have been ingrained to believe success is a subjective goal, but despite that perspective, I have still found myself devastated by rejection and left writhing in the feeling of failure.

There are a variety of ways that students can bolster their professional backgrounds. The University of Florida (UF) provides unique opportunities that prepares students to be leaders in pharmacy when we go outside of our comfort zones and bring health care to other parts of the world. Since 2003, UF has worked directly with health professionals and students from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY) in Mérida, Mexico. The project, called “Hoy en tu Communidad,” is a program developed by UADY that targets disadvantaged villages and provides free health care services to patients. While UF students participate for 1 week in the spring, UADY frequently visits these same villages throughout the entire year.

The APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition is always a showcase of student accomplishments. From patient care to advocacy initiatives, student pharmacists have an unbelievable impact on communities and the profession. This past March, more than 200 projects were presented by student pharmacists through APhA’s Contributed Papers Program, and several were chosen for recognition due to outstanding merit during APhA2019 in Seattle.