Liang Jun Ren is a second-year PharmD candidate at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at Saint Joseph’s University.
Between patient interactions, lab simulations, and professional communications, how much room do you leave for stimulating your creativity? Juggling is basically a side profession for student pharmacists, from school to family to relationships to work, and this oftentimes can lead to neglect of your hobbies and personal care. However, you must not let that go to the wayside when your studies increase year by year; you must make time for the small fun things.
For me, that is the escape into the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D).
Another world of creativity
Growing up, I always fantasized about magical powers. Even now, there are moments when I think to myself, “It would be so much easier if I could shoot fire out of my hands, so I don’t have to buy another lighter for the stove.” Enter D&D, a place where I can express my interests as a storyteller and as someone who fantasizes about magnificent creatures and spectacular power. It began as a curiosity, as I’m a man with a flair for the dramatics and fantasy realms. D&D was a gateway into self-expression and a way for me to accomplish incredible feats and become a hero of a story of my choosing.
The charm of D&D comes from its immersion and a willingness to take part in the stories. It’s relative to the amount of effort you want to put into it—the more you are willing to commit to your character, the more willing you are to make silly noises, and the more willing you are to get emotionally invested in the story, the more you will get out of it. I think that’s a great way to offset the professional and health care world where the focus is on data, factual information, and a logical way to approach treatment.
A language of shared experiences
Throughout my time in pharmacy school, I have found that pharmacy as a profession is more than its medications; it’s about the patient as well and whether or not student pharmacists can express sympathies toward each and every patient. Not everyone may have had all the same experiences, and D&D has helped me better understand my own emotions and, in turn, translate that understanding toward patients who I see in the pharmacy, as well.
My character that I have created in this fantasy world is a little satyr guy named Cecil. He has his own issues to work through, whether that was a feeling of incompetency or a sense of imposter syndrome. I discovered parts of myself that I worked through in this character, in the fantasy world where spiders are 6 feet tall and dust bunnies are enemies that can kill you. I suppose your issues are smaller in comparison when your enemies in D&D involve a 50-foot-tall dragon breathing fire.
Take care of your creative side
I want to challenge you, dear reader, to take care of yourself creatively. Whether it is drawing, painting, dancing, singing, playing board games, enjoying D&D, writing, or whatever it may be, I want you to make time for these creative arts because it is the small things that make your journey as student pharmacists worth it.