By Allyson Cagle, PharmD

Spoiler alert: I’m about to tell you the real side to being a recent graduate—the side that no one really talks about. This is my story, and my perspective. These are things that I have observed about myself and about my classmates, and what I did to help ease into this new chapter of my life.

From excited to scared

I still remember graduation, as it was the best day. My family was all in town, my mom got an awesome cake that looked like a prescription pad, we took lots of photos, and celebrated the culmination of my 8 long years of college. But what I remember even more clearly was waking up about a week later and realizing, “Oh man … what now?”

My e-mail inbox was actually empty for once, and I still had, “Register for the NAPLEX!” unchecked on my to-do list. Reality began to sink in, and for the first time, I was terrified. However, I didn’t want to admit it because the rest of my classmates seemed like they “had it all together.” Or at least so I thought. It took several months to realize the rest of my classmates were all feeling the same way I was: scared. Scared because:

• They didn’t have a job lined up immediately after graduation.
• They didn’t “match” back in the spring and their vision for the future completely changed.
• They didn’t apply for residency at all and they kept hearing negative opinions about their choice.
• Their residency required them to move far, far away from friends and family.
• Even though they landed a residency in an ideal location, they felt as though they weren’t “good enough” or “smart enough.”
• They believed they were going to fail the NAPLEX.

The list goes on and on.

Day of NP LIF

The e-mail to attend APhA’s “Day of NP LIFE” came at the perfect time. I immediately registered and am so glad that I attended. This was my way of joining a group again, and actively finding a way to stay plugged in and supported through this intimidating process.

Day of NP LIFE was a day-long event in Washington, DC, this past July, and even though it didn’t officially start until Saturday, there was an amazing dinner on Friday night to welcome everyone in. And it gets better: it was on the beautiful terrace of APhA headquarters, which overlooks the National Mall. I reconnected with so many people I already knew and met even more that I didn’t. Honestly, I could have flown back right after dinner and felt like I had my money’s worth for the entire weekend.

Saturday was a day full of learning. We listened to keynote speaker Ron Culberson, who challenged us to incorporate one aspect of fun in our day-to-day routine and then notice what a positive difference if would make not only for us, but the people we work with as well.

We then enjoyed numerous interactive sessions on topics that are very real and relevant in today’s practice, including contraception, the opioid epidemic, LGBTQ+ inclusive health care, planning for loan repayment, and many more. We ended the day with an scenic boat ride down the Potomac River as the sun was setting—it was as picturesque as a movie.

This meeting was the “great trifecta”: Great location, great programming, and great people. What I cherished the most was meeting recent graduates like myself, while also meeting pharmacists that are 4 and 5 years out from graduation. Hearing their stories and learning about their paths, and how they got to where they are today, was the most reassuring and uplifting aspect. This meeting was exactly what I needed, at just the right time.