Victoria Lyle is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and is the 2023–2024 APhA–ASP National President.
When I reflect on the past year, I think of a question I would always get asked: “Do you know your presidential theme?” And for the longest time, the answer was “absolutely not.” That is, until it got to the point in my president-elect year when time was running out and I really needed to choose one as soon as possible.
While scrolling through Pinterest in hopes of gaining inspiration from the “inspirational quote” boards, I knew I wanted my presidential theme to be something that resonated with me, but also resonated with all student pharmacists. I think the pressure of wanting my presidential theme to be perfect aided in my procrastination.
At some point during my Pinterest browsing, I came across an image that read “Believe in Yourself.” The second I laid my eyes on it, I knew that was it, that was my presidential theme.
Believe in yourself, be you
How did I know? It reminded me of the quote, “she believed she could, so she did.” This quote specifically has always been my “quote” according to my mother, because anything I set my mind to, I achieved it. I felt that as a theme, Believe in Yourself embodied that special quote, but also encompasses another important value of mine: be you!
This year, I want to motivate student pharmacists to embrace the characteristics, qualities, and strengths that make them who they are. Student pharmacists have been motivated this past year to have the courage to change themselves, their communities, and the profession of pharmacy. Now that they have exemplified what it means to be courageous, I want student pharmacists to believe in themselves to continue to make these changes, pursue their dreams, and become the best pharmacist they can be.
Special series of articles
To the student pharmacists reading this article, I challenge you to believe in yourselves going forward, especially as you transition into the new practitioner role. You worked so hard to get to where you are and I want you to believe that you are smart, strong, and capable, because you are!
Over the next few weeks, you will have the opportunity to read about your fellow student pharmacists who embody this theme. I cannot wait to read these articles and I know you’ll enjoy this article series as well!