By Brent Rollins, PhD, RPh
Recently, one of your classmates reached out to me and asked if there was anything exciting that had happened that I鈥檇 like to share for the Digest. Well, I didn鈥檛 really know, so I asked 鈥渆xciting for me or exciting in general?鈥� Her response became more focused, looking for encouraging and uplifting words during these unique and trying times. I let her request marinate, trying to figure out how to be both encouraging and uplifting in an academic and just plain human sense. Then, it came to me. Something I have saved on my phone from .
The current P3s should remember who Jon Gordon is, as he鈥檚 the author of the Power of a Positive Team book we went through in the Personal & Professional Development II course last winter (and the P2s will dive into this winter). In that course, we learned how to do things like change our perspective from 鈥渉ave to鈥� to 鈥済et to.鈥� For example, I don鈥檛 鈥渉ave to鈥� workout, I 鈥済et鈥� the opportunity to improve my overall physical and mental health. Below is what I described above from Mr. Gordon, and we鈥檙e going to look at a few of them and maybe how we can all apply them.
You鈥檝e probably heard the phrase 鈥渁ctions speak louder than words.鈥� Well, that is often true, but, as Gordon says 鈥渢he words we speak matter. They help to shape the world around us.鈥� Thus, let鈥檚 examine a handful of the 20 things we should say more often.
Family, friends, spouse, significant other and just other important individuals in your life. A whole host of individuals in our lives have helped us get through the craziness that has been COVID-19. Never stop letting them know what they mean to you.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. We will be back together in the classroom, building and all across campus learning and working to help make you the best pharmacist you can be. Before you know it, you will be a practicing pharmacist, taking care of patients and being a leader within your community.
In you are a sports fan, you probably watched 鈥淭he Last Dance鈥� documentary that ESPN did during the height of quarantine life on Michael Jordan鈥檚 last season with the Chicago Bulls. The entire documentary was fantastic, but the biggest revelation was how overwhelmingly positive Michael Jordan was, at one point saying 鈥渨hy should I be afraid of a shot I haven鈥檛 taken yet.鈥� His belief in himself and the continual choice he made to stay positive no matter what is something we all can choose to be.
I鈥檓 quite certain I speak for all of the faculty when I say we are here for you. We are here to ensure your success. If you are struggling to understand concepts, reach out. If you aren鈥檛 performing on exams as well as you鈥檇 like, let鈥檚 discuss. Our current world has physically pushed us away from each other, but that does not mean we are not here for you. If an email, quick Google Meet or even the tried and true phone call is needed, we are here for you if you need to talk.
The opposite might seem true in our current state of living, but it is not true. You are not alone in this journey. As I mentioned above, we as a faculty/school are here to ensure your success. As classmates, I know the GroupMe is always flowing with information, but also use it to reach out to your fellow classmates, share positive news or daily motivations.
Two simple words we undoubtedly don鈥檛 say enough. Thank you for your perseverance and patience through all of this. Thank you for your efforts to engage in class. Thank you for doing your part to follow the protocols our school has set up. Thank you for all your help with accreditation. Most of all, thank you for choosing to be a part of the 黑料传送门 family.
If we as a school didn鈥檛 believe that, you wouldn鈥檛 be here. We must all remember, though, that greatness comes in many shapes and sizes. Giving a classmate a ride to school when they need it, helping each other understand what鈥檚 going on in class or sending a positive text when you know someone has had a bad day. In the end, your actions, especially on assessments and exams, are vital, but how you speak and the words you use matter just as much in our profession. Choose them wisely, don鈥檛 forget the words above, and go be great today!
Established in 2010, 黑料传送门 School of Pharmacy, located in Suwanee, Georgia, offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, several dual degree programs and multiple concentration options. For more information, visit pcom.edu/pharmacy or complete our request information form.