Yesterday I had the honor of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Alpha Pi chapter of Lambda Kappa Sigma. I met the women that, back in 1961 when only 4 women attended St. John's for pharmacy, decided we needed a group to promote the women of this profession. They were visionaries, and 50 years later, they were able to come together, reminisce, and laugh about old times. But this wasn't just a humbling glimpse into the past, it was a look into the future. A reassurance that in 50 years, my sisters and I can still come together and catch up without missing a beat.
Today I went to the STJ graduation. Well, just the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Profession's Doctoral Hooding.
I sat in the stands of Carnesecca Arena, I waited (somewhat) patiently for the ceremony to start, I assured myself that I wouldn't cry, and within approximately 90 seconds, tears were running down my face.
Emotionally, it's been a rough week for me. As school winded down for all of us, it started to set in that the sixth years weren't coming back. These were the people that befriended me as a freshman and mentored me as I progressed through the last four years. Our ties surpassed friendships as we became a family. They celebrated my accomplishments with me, and helped me through the hardships of pharmacy school, always reminding me that this too shall pass, and things are never as bad as they seem. Just like they were able to make it through fourth year, to pass infectious and make it through D&Ds, I have too. And just like they made it through rotations, Midyear, and "the match," made it all the way to getting hooded today, one day I will too. They made it through their six years with strength and perseverance and walked across that stage today with confidence and poise. They were are remarkable role models.
Now, I don't want anyone to think I'm discounting the amazing support I have in my own year. It was my fourth year sisters and brothers that not only convinced me to stick with neuro, but who helped me study to pass it and to celebrate the end of this hellish semester. And it was my friends that helped me through my tenure as APhA-ASP Chapter President and shared their kind words when that too was over.
The truth is, I have never known St. John's without these of people.
At the end of the day, the events of this weekend left me more on the fence about things than I have been in a long while. Watching my friends walk across campus as student pharmacists for the last time made me realize that my own cap and gown (not to mention that sweet doctoral hood) is closer than ever. Yet I still have so much left to do before I walk that stage. And that while I've been focusing on school and extracurriculars all this time, my life has been ticking away. It wasn't until the last few weeks that I started to fear I haven't been giving my life enough attention. I've started to feel (dare I say it?) a little...lonely.
I don't know, maybe it's the tired talking, maybe it's the excitement at not having an 18-credit semester schedule for a whole 4 months talking, but I got a lot of chances at reflection this past week, and that's pretty much what I've come up with.
