Congratulations, you’ve matched! It’s important to take some time to celebrate this success. After months of hard work, you’ve been matched with a residency program and are that much closer to graduating from pharmacy school. But what comes next?

Job. Residency. Fellowship. These words strike fear, confusion, and anxiety in the hearts of many third- and final-year student pharmacists. As you begin the transition from student pharmacist to practicing pharmacist, the question of “what’s next?” can be overwhelming at times. I experienced these same feelings while applying for fellowship positions this past fall.

Ever since I was a little kid, my father has always told me that living a balanced life is one of the most important things a person can do. I define balance as my ability to stay on top of my responsibilities while still making time for self-care.