Maximize Your Summer: Extracurricular Tips for Pharmacy Students

As a pharmacy student, summers offer a unique opportunity to gain valuable extracurricular experience that can enhance your academic journey and boost your career prospects. Whether you're just starting or nearing the end of your pharmacy program, leveraging your summer effectively can make a significant difference. Here's how you can make the most of your summer break with various extracurricular activities.

Why Extracurricular Activities Matter

Extracurricular activities are essential for pharmacy students for several reasons:

• Practical Experience: These activities provide hands-on experience that complements your classroom learning.
• Networking: Engaging in various activities helps you build a professional network, which can be invaluable when looking for jobs or residencies.
• Skill Development: These experiences allow you to develop soft skills such as communication, leadership, and teamwork.
• Job/Post-Graduate Applications: Having a diverse range of extracurricular activities can make your application stand out.

Types of Extracurricular Activities

Studying and Academic Enrichment

Studying over your summer break, taking elective courses or pursuing certifications can be a big leg up. Consider options like BLS/ACLS training; immunization, sterile compounding, or hazardous drug management certification if not already offered by your pharmacy program. If last year was more challenging than expected, using this time to reinforce basic concepts or revisit difficult areas can be incredibly worthwhile. Reviewing material to form a solid foundation for next year can alleviate nerves and give you a head start. Just be sure to step outside the library occasionally for your daily dose of vitamin D.

Example: Refresh old concepts or preview new ones by incorporating a few study sessions each day in combination with another extracurricular activity from this list.

Per Diem Jobs

Short-term per diem jobs are perfect for gaining experience without a long-term commitment. These jobs include:

• Scribing: Work as a medical scribe to get firsthand experience in clinical settings.
• EMT: If you have the certification, working as an EMT can provide you with critical emergency care experience.
• Medical Assistant: Working as a medical assistant can give you practical insights into patient care and clinical operations.

Example: Look for per diem positions at local hospitals, clinics, or community pharmacies that fit your summer schedule.

Tutoring and Mentoring

Sharing your knowledge with others can be incredibly rewarding and help reinforce your own understanding. Consider:

• Tutoring: Offer tutoring services to undergraduates or peers who might be struggling with specific subjects.
• Mentoring: Get involved in mentoring high school students or undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy.

Example: Volunteer as a tutor for college students aspiring to enter the pharmacy field, or join programs that connect you with high school students.

Volunteering

Volunteering not only helps you give back to the community but also enriches your experience. Options include:

• Health Clinics: Volunteer at free or low-cost health clinics to provide services to underserved populations.
• Community Programs: Participate in community health fairs, vaccination drives, or educational outreach programs.

Example: Find local organizations or non-profits that align with your interests and offer volunteer opportunities.

Leadership Roles

Developing leadership skills is crucial for any healthcare professional. While student organizations may not be active over the summer, there are still plenty of opportunities to hone your leadership skills:

• Community Initiatives: Get involved in or start a community health initiative. This could include organizing health fairs, vaccination drives, or wellness workshops in your local area.
• Summer Camps: Many summer camps seek leaders with medical knowledge to run health and wellness programs. This can be a great way to develop your leadership skills while working with children and adolescents.
• Online Courses: Enroll in online leadership courses or workshops that focus on healthcare management and leadership skills. These courses often offer certificates that you can add to your resume.

Example: Organize a local health fair, volunteer as a leader at a summer camp, or enroll in an online healthcare leadership course to develop and showcase your leadership abilities. Check out MOOCs for lots of free and low-cost options from leading institutions.

Shadowing

Shadowing professionals in various settings can give you a clear understanding of different career paths. Consider shadowing:

• Clinical Pharmacists: Gain insight into the day-to-day responsibilities and challenges faced by clinical pharmacists.
• Industry Pharmacists: Explore roles in the pharmaceutical industry, such as drug development or regulatory affairs.
• Non-Pharmacist Clinicians: Shadowing doctors, nurses, or other healthcare providers can help you appreciate interprofessional teamwork and understand the broader context of patient care.

Example: Arrange shadowing experiences with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in different specialties to broaden your perspective on potential career paths.

Choosing Wisely

Choosing which extracurricular activities to pursue requires careful consideration. Here are some tips to balance your commitments:

• Prioritize Interests: Focus on activities that genuinely interest you and align with your career goals.
• Consistent Involvement: Aim to commit to activities for a significant period to demonstrate dedication and gain deeper insights.

Maintaining Balance

While it's essential to gain experience, it's equally important to maintain your well-being. Here are some strategies to ensure a balanced summer:

• Self-Care: Set aside time for relaxation, hobbies, and spending time with friends and family.
• Health and Wellness: Engage in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy diet, and ensure adequate sleep.
• Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness or meditation to manage stress and improve mental health.

Example: Plan your summer schedule to include at least one self-care activity daily, whether it’s a workout, a hobby, or a social outing.

Conclusion

Your summer as a pharmacy student is a valuable time to gain extracurricular experience that will benefit your academic and professional journey. It's not too late to try some of these activities now or start planning for next break. However you decide to spend your summer break in pharmacy school make sure you’re being true to yourself. That way, you’ll return fresh and prepared for a productive fall semester.