What is Your Next Adventure?

By Lily He, PharmD
PGY2 Ambulatory Care Resident

June is always an exciting month. It’s a time that signifies the end of a chapter as well as the beginning of a new adventure.

For learners and residents in the world of pharmacy, June brings us so much joy. For some, it’s the beginning of a well-deserved summer break. For others, it’s a rite of passage. We graduate from pharmacy school or from our PGY1 residency. Suddenly, we are on the brink of a new beginning. The future is filled with endless possibilities!

A year ago, I graduated from my PGY1 residency. I was thrilled to start my next chapter in ambulatory care and to meet my PGY2 co-resident. I was even excited about my daily commute from Vancouver to the Portland area. Most of all, I was excited about all the experiences I would gain and the connections that I would make. In a blink of an eye, a whole year flew by.

Now, in about a week, I will be graduating from my PGY2 residency. I am standing at the precipice of change once again. The excitement is still here. But this time, it feels different.

Although standing at the precipice of new opportunities is exciting, it is also a bit nerve-wracking: Ultimately, we as pharmacy residents will need to face the question of “What’s next?” We are so used to going through our training with friends, classmates and co-residents. But the thought of moving on to our next milestone by ourselves can be intimidating. Armed with all the knowledge that we have gained from pharmacy school and/or residency, we are ready to tackle problems and provide great patient care. But maybe, despite all our knowledge and experiences, there’s still a small part of us that wonders if we are truly ready to face the future by ourselves and without the guidance of our preceptors.

As Dr. Seuss said, “When you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.”

During the past two years, there have been a few instances where I have thought about this quote while working solo. In most of these instances, I remember my feelings of unease. As time has passed, however, that sense of anxiousness has also been accompanied by a sense of confidence. Why? Residency has expanded my clinical knowledge and improved my self-awareness. In the face of unknown situations, I have learned to acknowledge my emotions and to trust my skills and abilities. Our preceptors have shared their wisdom with us throughout the year and have helped us become the pharmacists we are today.

We are ready for the next part of our journey. We just need to embrace it.