Blog Posts

2015: A prospective look.

/ ebarbye / Leave a comment

Everyone makes New Year resolutions, but we all know they seldom make it past Valentine’s Day (if we’re lucky). I’ve been guilty of this for at least the past few years now. Perhaps if I document my goals for this year, I will (theoretically) be forced to hold myself accountable and make sure at least a few of them get done (and maybe you can help me reach them). In 2015, I hope to…

(In no particular order)

  1. Live healthier. This means watching my portion sizes, hitting the gym more, and making healthier choices. I’ll park further away when I go shopping, I’ll choose water over soda, and I’ll limit myself when I drink beer. I’ll choose salad over soup, and skip dessert, even if it looks amazing. This is going to be tough for me, so I will appreciate any help I can get.
  2. Advance my career. The role of the pharmacist is constantly changing, and I’m going to have to adapt to that. Some more specific goals in this category are:
    1. Become a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C).
    2. Complete the American Pharmacists Association Pharmacy-Based Travel Health Services Advanced Competency Training Program. (I’m registered to do this at APhA2015 in San Diego in March).
    3. Give a Continuing Education (CE) program at a local, state, or national pharmacy meeting.
  3. Travel. I love traveling, and I love traveling even more with the people I love. I already have some ideas, some trips planned, and some tickets already bought. Here’s what my year may look like:
    1. Philadelphia in February.
    2. San Diego in March.
    3. Albuquerque in August?
  4. Serve my Fraternity. I’ve gotten so much from Phi Delta Chi, so it’s time I give back. (Brothers, if you’re reading this, here’s where AAAE comes in) My goals for 2015 include:
    1. Run for a National Office.
    2. Charter an Alumni Chapter.

If you haven’t had time (or haven’t made time) to think about how you’re going to make the most of 2015, I would challenge you to do so. Best of luck, and here’s to a great year!

Blessed.

/ ebarbye / 1 Comment

Hello everyone! I’ve tried starting a blog once or twice in the past, but it always seems to fizzle out. Now that I don’t have school consuming my time, I think I’ll finally be able to dedicate some time to writing quality posts that you’ll hopefully want to read and will start looking forward to.

As the year comes to a close, it gives me a chance to look back on what’s happened in the past year. I will definitely say that 2014 has topped the list, and I’m incredibly blessed to be able to say so. I’m also very lucky to have my lovely girlfriend Melissa as a companion on my journey!

In April, I was fortunate to attend APhA2014, the annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association in Orlando, Florida. This would mark my last APhA meeting as a student pharmacist. In addition to meeting pharmacists and student pharmacists from across the country and attending the scheduled programming, I was able to visit Epcot!

The month of May brought one of the proudest moments in my life so far. After many (many, many) years in college, I finally earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. After passing the NAPLEX and Maryland Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE), I became a registered pharmacist in the State of Maryland. I began a job at an independent pharmacy on the Eastern Shore of Maryland as a clinical pharmacist. Helping patients on a daily basis gives my life purpose.

I was also invited to attend the Pharmacy Leadership and Education Institute (PLEI) Leader Development Seminar (LDS) in Tampa, Florida as a facilitator. It was my first LDS, and I was fortunate enough to be able to help some of my Phi Delta Chi Brothers realize and capitalize upon their leadership potential. We truly are Leaders in Pharmacy!

The summer came to a close, and I welcomed fall by attending my first baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (I actually saw three O’s games there this year, including two ALCS games — all thanks to friends!) I got to spend my birthday in Baltimore with Melissa and some of my favorite Brothers.

I also planned a weekend away with Melissa for her birthday while fulfilling a dream of mine:  spending Phi Delta Chi Founders’ Day at Alpha Chapter at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was humbling to visit the old stomping grounds where our Founding Fathers met and founded our Fraternity back in 1883. We got to visit the gravesite of Albert Benjamin Prescott, where we paid our respects during a very emotional ceremony with the Alpha Brothers and their pledges.

This Christmas was amazing as always, and I’m blessed to have so many generous people in my life. But all presents aside, the moments I enjoyed the most were the ones spent with my family, Melissa, and my friends. Those are the real gifts, and they’re priceless.

Well, there you have it. My year in less than 400 words. Even though 2014 proved to be a roller coaster of emotions at times, it’s been my family and friends who have helped me through it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’ve read this far, thank you. Stay tuned for future updates!