My advice to Pharmacy freshers

Are you a first-year pharmacy student at the University of Manchester? If yes is the answer, then you are at the right place! Starting a new chapter of your life at University can be a daunting proposition, but after being accepted to study Pharmacy you should feel proud and excited. MPharm graduate, Hadeeqa Bibi is in a better position than most to offer advice to first year students having been there and done it all, and here she is to do just that…

Although I  graduated from MPharm at Manchester this year, my first year of pharmacy school still feels like it was just yesterday. Within the blink of an eye you are going to go from first year to fourth year, and you will wonder how fast time has gone by, trust me on this, I am telling you from experience! You come in as young teenagers and next thing you know, you will be sitting your final year exams as mature young adults.

University in general will help you grow as an individual and teach you many things. However, Pharmacy will definitely teach you compassion, sympathy and care towards others. I remember when I was a first-year pharmacy student and it all seemed surreal! I couldn’t believe I was at University and part of such a huge cohort. I had mixed emotions going from college to university and I am sure you will do too.

At first it may feel a little overwhelming with such a busy timetable, lack of familiar faces and of course the English and Maths test you have to do, but do not worry! Everything falls into place and the course is very structured, the staff will help you get through the year with ease and minimal stress.

Of course, it is normal to feel happy, excited and a little stressed so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. This can be in terms of educational needs, social relationships or just anything in general, the staff at the University as well as the Manchester Pharmacy school are very helpful and supportive. Although, the first few weeks are primarily about settling into University and most importantly making friends. You will come across many new faces and it is not unusual, everybody or should I say most people are in the same boat as you so don’t feel scared to approach people and introduce yourself, make friends!

Having a good set of friends and being approachable will allow you to have an amazing time throughout the four years. Because of course, you are going to be part of the healthcare team, so it is all about forming relationships and working with others. In particular, at Manchester you will have a lot of group work, so it is important for you to be sociable and easy to work with.

At last, I would like to congratulate you all for making it into Pharmacy school and hope you enjoy your time at Manchester! University has been a great experience for me and I hope it is the same for you all. Don’t let the work bog you down instead find a balance between studying and socialising earlier on, this will allow your work flow to be much smoother and of course less stressful.

Remember, “a dream doesn’t become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work” (1). Are you ready to achieve your dream? Is the sweat and determination worth it? And how much work and effort are you going to put in?