Beginning with the End in Mind.

Friday was our White Coat Ceremony for the entering class of Pharmacy school. 
The white coat symbolizes a commitment to professionalism and dedication to patient care. During the ceremony, we each went on stage to be presented with our white coat and then we all took a Pledge of Professionalism to begin our time has professional students working towards our Pharm.D.

It's a pretty meaningful ceremony, and I would be lying if I didn't say I've dreamed of the day I'd get that white coat for quite a while now. It's silly how an object can make things seem so real for you, but that white coat made the fact that I'll be in pharmacy classes this week seem MUCH more real.

During orientation the day before our WCC, one of the professors talked about what professionalism means. How would we define professionalism, and what does it mean in the pharmacy profession? You don't realize how hard it is to define professionalism without the word profession until you're asked that question. We spent time going through the Pledge of Professionalism, the Oath of the Pharmacist, and the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, taking the time to recognize what they all meant to us and what the ultimate outcome of pharmacy school will be-- focusing on our duty and role as pharmacists.

"Beginning with the end in mind," is quote that she shared with us. That's the way we should begin pharmacy school, keeping a large focus on why we're here, why we're entering the profession of pharmacy, and what professionalism in our field means. That quote she shared with us is ultimately what the White Coat ceremony symbolizes.

 

We ended the ceremony with a reception, where we each signed the Pledge we recited.

I was so thankful to have my family there to celebrate the mark of the beginning of my Pharmacy career, I can't tell you how supportive they've been of me up to this point. And I'm sure all of the pep talks they've given me aren't over yet. ;) 

Now, the rest of my weekend is dedicated to studying. Class hasn't even started yet and I'm already behind... pharmacy school has arrived!!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!