What originally attracted you to pharmacy?
Since my parents migrated from Nigeria and became nurses here in the U.S. in the 1990s, I was exposed to the healthcare field from an early age. I considered a career in nursing, but I was more attracted to pharmacy; I thought of pharmacists as hard workers, extremely knowledgeable practitioners, and people who do their job humbly and quietly. But as I learned throughout my tenure in school, the profession of pharmacy is full of people who live their lives as pharmacists OUT LOUD! We advocate for our patients and for our profession, we work hard, and we build our knowledge for the benefit of those we serve.
How did you come to the decision to pursue your degree at USC?
I was set to pursue my degree in my home state of Texas until I met a student from USC who encouraged me to look into its PharmD program. I fell in love with the level of excellence USC carries in educating and preparing students to be competent pharmacists, and I wanted to be a part of that process. No regrets!
How do you feel your experiences at USC have prepared you for this next chapter in your life?
My experiences at USC have made me more comfortable with using my voice and trusting my leadership skills. Although the school’s primary responsibility is to educate you and prepare you to be a competent pharmacist, my experiences have made me more comfortable in using my communication skills to educate patients, speak with other healthcare professionals, and also become a better friend and companion. Through the challenges I have faced and conquered at USC, I am confident that I can effectively deal with life’s ups and downs.
What was most meaningful to you about administering COVID-19 vaccines and how did the pandemic solidify your desire to work in community pharmacy?
Administering COVID-19 vaccines to the Los Angeles community has been one of the most fruitful experiences in my last year of pharmacy school. Talking to patients and helping dispel rumors and alleviate their anxiety about receiving the vaccine has been memorable and meaningful. It made me feel like I was doing something amazing to help inform patients, protect them and reduce transmission and infection. Communicating with patients is one of the most underrated aspects of our profession, and it has been nice to know that patients are looking to their healthcare professionals for advice. Working through the pandemic has definitely solidified my desire to work in the community setting because I am confident that I am able to meet the needs of any population I serve in the future. A pharmacist who puts their all into their work gets rewarded by seeing their patients embark on a road to better health. That is what I love about the profession.
Can you tell us about your post-graduation plans? What are you most looking forward to?
Although I am graduating this year, I will remain at USC to pursue a community pharmacy residency. I am most looking forward to educating other students while building my own knowledge and leadership in the pharmacy realm. I am very excited, and I am really glad that USC decided to keep me for another year.
Do you have any advice to the students who are following in your footsteps? Is there anything else you’d like to share?
There is always a market for people who make the conscious effort to pursue excellence. It may take more time, it may even be inconvenient, but you will learn to serve your community to the best of your ability. Always be kind to others, but most importantly, be kind to yourself. And do not forget to celebrate your accomplishments when you get the chance.