What does being an engaged APhA–ASP member mean to you? If you ask a group of student pharmacists this question, you will inevitably receive a variety of individualized answers. While it is important for chapter leaders to create a culture where members feel a sense of belonging, it is up to each individual member to seize the organization’s opportunities and embrace their own calling. 

Ever since elementary school, you have been in pursuit of your calling. You have learned a range of skills and acquired various traits that have gotten you where you are today. Your decisions turned into actions; your actions set you on your own distinct path to success. But the road is not always clear and sometimes you are forced to proceed in directions unknown. No matter the path, however, you always end up at your unique destination.

In my current role as Associate Professor and Residency Program Director at the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, we often speak to our students about discerning their vocation (their “calling”) and how faculty, staff, and our community partners can help them in this process. Attending and graduating from pharmacy school is so much more than about becoming a pharmacist at the end. Yes, that’s important, but embracing the concepts of profession and servant leadership are what will lead to long-term success and satisfaction.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the week-by-week onslaught of exams, quizzes, and projects. My advice is to take advantage of the opportunities that allow you to take a breath and think about the profession in broader terms and what that might mean for you. Along the way, I have picked up some additional tips from trusted mentors and my own experiences.