Closing out my APPE journey

Alexis Jones, PharmD, (aka “Grace”) is a PGY-1 pharmacy resident at the Durham VA Health Care System in Durham, NC.

I hope everyone has been doing well and having a great summer! If you have been keeping up with my APPE reflections over the past year, I want to thank you and I hope they have been insightful. I am writing my last article for Student Pharmacist as “Grace,” as I have now graduated with my PharmD and am currently in my residency.

Now, to reintroduce myself!

Hello! I am Alexis Jones, but I go by Alex! I just graduated from Wingate University School of Pharmacy. I was on the 2021–2022 APhA–ASP Communications Standing Committee (follow on Instagram @aphaasp) and loved every moment! I am now a 2022–2023 PGY-1 pharmacy resident at the Durham VA Health Care System in Durham, NC. I have been enjoying my time so far, and I’m thankful for the experiences that are to come. Please feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn; please connect and see me as a resource.

Here’s what’s been going on since I last communicated with you.

Graduation day!

I graduated in the middle of May, and what a day! I will always remember it. It was an amazing feeling to get dressed in a Doctor of Pharmacy cap, gown, and hood with cords hanging around my neck, then get to walk across the stage with peers and receive the prize our eyes have been focused on for over 4 years. It finally happened!

I can’t wait until every student pharmacist gets to experience their special graduation day. The sacrifices that have been made leading up to this point and your purpose for pursing pharmacy will all come to fruition.

NAPLEX and MPJE prep and advice

I have compiled a few tips and tricks I came across that I thought were helpful or that I came up with that helped me through the licensing process:

1. Don’t be afraid to reach out to any pharmacy resident or pharmacist you know (either through school or rotations) to ask about study tips.
2. Create a schedule to help manage your study timeline. Try to be reasonable and allow yourself breaks.
3. Use different resources out there. There are some available through your APhA–ASP membership.
4. Start early and do small chunks. Focus on topics you don’t feel as confident about because that is where you may struggle the most.
5. Find out how you learn best and use different methods of learning. It is important to stay engaged to ensure active learning. Some examples of active learning include drawing pictures, quizzing, rewriting on whiteboards or note cards, rephrasing notes, and creating questions.
6. Be kind to yourself. This is a stressful time, and you are not going through it alone!

Thank you all for coming along this journey with me. I’m grateful for this writing opportunity.

I hope everyone has a successful and amazing upcoming school year. See you all later!