Using Pharmacy School as a Pathway to Self-Actualization

I always knew I would pursue a postgraduate degree, but the idea of 4 more years of school was hard to wrap my head around. I measured that span against other 4-year stretches in my life—ninth to 12th grade, a newborn in the family becoming a chatty 4-year-old, my 4 years earning my bachelor’s degree—and the thought of doing it again felt overwhelming.

Still, I knew it would be worth it. So, I asked myself: How do I turn dread into hope? I decided that by graduation, I wouldn’t just be earning a doctoral degree; I’d be graduating as the best version of myself. Pharmacy school wasn’t going to get in the way of that; it would help build it. Here is what helped me get there.

Protect your sleep and fuel your body well. All-nighters may have worked in undergraduate school, but in pharmacy school, they are a fast track to burnout. I need 6 to 8 hours of sleep to help my brain synthesize material and feel relaxed enough to take in the sheer volume of complex material pharmacy school throws at us. The research agrees: Sleep quality is directly linked to memory consolidation and academic performance.¹

The same logic applies to fuel. What we eat ultimately breaks down, such as carbohydrates, which break down into glucose, the brain’s basic fuel. Feeding your body nutrient-dense food across all the food groups supports both cognitive gains and a fuller stomach.² Hydration deserves equal attention; even mild dehydration measurably impairs attention, executive function, and motor coordination, all of which affect not just how you feel day to day, but how you
actually perform academically.³

Fill your cup and find your tribe. Whether through daily, weekly, or occasional rituals and hobbies, done alone or shared, a strong support network is crucial to thriving in pharmacy school. Whether you already have one or need to build one from scratch, don’t be afraid to find or create your tribe from new or existing relationships. Feeling supported is linked to better performance, stronger retention, and less burnout.⁴ Giving back is part of this, too, and it doesn’t require money: Volunteering time, listening, or sharing a meal all count. People who volunteer regularly report less loneliness and better physical functioning,⁵ and understanding how your contribution helps someone else deepens the happiness you get from giving.⁶ Even small, consistent generosity measurably improves long-term well-being.⁷

Find whatever grounds you. Prayer starts my day—pouring out my fears and hopes and coming back ready to meet the world. Meditation helps me reset during a hard lecture or before a tough exam, and journaling helps me name what I am feeling and reflect on what is and is not working. Time outdoors, whether it is at the beach or under the stars, does the same. Mindfulness practices like these are linked to self-awareness, well-being, and personal growth.⁸

Make time to grow outside the curriculum. I keep a book on my desk and take 10- to 30-minute reading breaks between lectures; it pulls my attention away just long enough that I return to studying with a clearer head. Learning a new skill works the same way, whether it becomes a hobby or a line on your curriculum vitae. Stepping into something unrelated to pharmacy recharges me and sharpens my thinking elsewhere, too; research shows that learning new skills strengthens neural pathways, adaptability, and problem-solving.⁹ You may even bring a new perspective back to pharmacy practice.

Move your body on purpose. Pharmacy school means long hours sitting through lectures and active learning sessions, and a sedentary routine takes a toll over time. My rule is that after a set stretch of studying, I get up and move: yoga, squats, or whatever is appealing, plus a short morning workout. Pairing a new habit with one I already do, a concept popularized by author James Clear, made this easier to stick with.¹⁰ Find a form of movement, and a time of day, that you will actually keep doing.

Let small, consistent actions compound. Einstein reportedly called compounding the eighth wonder of the world, and the principle applies far beyond finance. Five minutes of reading, 3 minutes of prayer, or a short check-in with a friend adds up to real change when done consistently. Breaking large tasks into smaller pieces makes consistency easier. Instead of cramming 12 hours of lectures into one weekend, I spread them across
4 days; instead of cleaning my apartment in one exhausting day, I do 30 minutes at a time on several days during the week.

An accountability partner, someone with a similar goal who checks in on you, helps, too. Completing small tasks builds self-confidence and self-efficacy nearly as much as completing big ones do,¹¹ making you more likely to tackle what is next.

This is not an exhaustive list, and I encourage you to keep what resonates and leave the rest. It applies at any stage of pharmacy school, or life. Consider the Chinese bamboo tree: According to a popular parable, for 4 years after it is planted, nothing visible happens above the soil, no matter how much it is watered or how much sun it gets. Then, over a 6-week period, it can shoot up to 80 feet. For 4 years underground, it was building the root system that made that growth possible.¹²

Keep watering your roots, even when you cannot see anything happening yet. My hope is that when we graduate, we leave not only as doctors, but also as better versions of ourselves.

REFERENCES

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9. LeWine HE. Train your brain. Harvard Health Publishing. July 20, 2024. Accessed September 14, 2026. https://www.health.harvard.edu/
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12. A powerful story of incredible growth and success: the parable of the Chinese bamboo tree. Energy Gardener. March 10, 2020. Accessed September 14, 2026. https://www.energygardener.com/blog/the-chinese-bamboo-tree