Shirly Ly is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, and the 2022–23 chair of the APhA–ASP Communications Standing Committee.

1. As you reflect on your student pharmacist experience thus far, what are some of your favorite memories?

Some of my favorite memories as a student pharmacist often involved my experiences as an APhA–ASP member. I got to develop deep connections with so many awesome, like-minded individuals—some of whom are my closest friends in pharmacy school—and really delve into the profession head-on in way in which I can work alongside members of the community to give back and advocate for patients.

Going to conferences was energizing to me. My first in-person conference was the 2019 APhA–ASP Region 3 Midyear Regional Meeting in Atlanta, and it was really an eye-opening experience during which I got to see firsthand the passion of student pharmacists all across the region and how much impact we have even as students. After working for a year as a member of the APhA–ASP Communications Standing Committee, I finally got to meet my team members in March at APhA2022 in San Antonio, and then met my new team when I attended the April 2022 Business Meeting at APhA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

2. Pharmacy school is demanding, especially when you add on additional activities. How do you manage all of your responsibilities?
In order to stay organized and on top of my responsibilities, I rely heavily on my Google calendar, Trello, and to-do lists.

I learned to color-code and time-block for my personal and professional life on my calendar, where I put my class times, exams, organizational events, and meetings as well as personal events and spending time with family and friends. It’s all in one place!

I use Trello to keep track of class assignments and deadlines as well as project management by breaking down large tasks into smaller, easily digestible tasks.

To-do lists are great for me to keep track of daily tasks, whether the list is physically on a Post-it note, the sticky notes app on my laptop, or on my Google calendar.

3. What are some of your favorite leadership tools and/or resources?
Some of my favorite leadership tools and resources include the following: Personality and leadership tests (i.e., StrengthsFinder, Myers Briggs, etc.); TED Talks such as Simon Sinek’s “Start with why—How great leaders inspire action” and Steven Johnson’s “Where good ideas come from” ; The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey; Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High (Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, et al.); the Dare to Lead podcast with Brené Brown  (my favorite episode so far is
“Developing an Infinite Mindset with Simon Sinek”); and all my mentors!

4. What does being a leader mean, and what does being selected for this award mean, to you?

Being a leader is all about serving others, being authentic, and leading by example, all the while taking ownership of the goals you set with your team. It is about uplifting others, recognizing their potential, and supporting their endeavors. Especially in a team, you place your trust in your team members and their abilities, emphasize strong communication skills, and always show respect to everyone.

As a recipient of the Student Leadership Award, it is a testament to my support system—which consists of my family, friends, advisers, and mentors—who have helped me grow into the individual I am today. They provide me with resources to develop my leadership skills and propel me to always strive to get out of my comfort zone to learn, network, and collaborate. All of this has culminated in this award. It was humbling to be among the other recipients who have achieved great accomplishments and clearly have an immense passion for our profession. It motivates me to continue to improve myself, evolve as a soon-to-be pharmacist, and stay involved!

5. What’s next for you?

I am at the beginning of my final year in pharmacy school and have started APPE rotations. It’s enlightening to be able to apply the knowledge and skills that I acquired during my didactic studies. I am also honored to continue my involvement with APhA–ASP as chair of the Communications Standing Committee, as well as the executive liaison for the University of Florida APhA–ASP Chapter.