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!