Student Voices: Ashley Ryan
First-year student, Ashley Ryan, finds personal and professional growth as a student leader
Story by Ashley Ryan | Published February 27, 2024
Student Voices gives first-person perspectives written by the students of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. For this piece, we hear from Ashley Ryan, PharmD candidate ’27, about taking on a leadership role in her first year at the School.
I think that my biggest accomplishment since coming to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy hasn’t been academic but rather experiential. During my first semester, I was elected as the Class President for my cohort, and I have absolutely loved stepping into the role! As Class President, I have the privilege of representing my peers in meetings with faculty, administration, and other student leaders. I get to connect with members of Student Senate, other class officers, and have regular check-in meetings with School leadership and Dean Kashuba.
It is always a great time being able to hear perspectives from the upperclassmen and keep up to date on happenings throughout the school. While I am also tasked with bringing forward any concerns or challenges that my class is facing, I also have the special opportunity to highlight our successes and to promote the amazing things that my peers are doing.
The first year of the PharmD program (PY1 year) is all about change and adjusting to new challenges unlike any I faced in undergrad. As an out-of-state student, it was daunting to move so far from my home of southern Ohio to a place where I didn’t know anyone. Before starting the program, I didn’t know what to expect from the people or the courses, and I worried that I would struggle to build connections while still focusing on my schoolwork. However, I quickly realized that the most important part of being at the Eshelman School of Phramacy is finding a community that lifts you up, supports you, and helps you along the way.
I am so glad to have met amazing people in my time so far at the School, and I have made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. From spending nights and weekends before exams in group study sessions, to having Friendsgiving and game nights, I have grown so close to the people in this program. They inspire me to continue working hard and pursuing what matters most to me. It was with the support of my new friends and classmates that I excelled in the classroom and dared to go outside my comfort zone and take on a new position.
This role has allowed me to grow my skills in leadership, advocacy, and time management. While every leadership role has its challenges, I have learned so much and have had an amazing time serving my class. Being involved as a PY1 has been a great way for me to make connections and have a more hands-on experience with the program and operations.
Collaboration and community are so important in pharmacy school, and being Class President has given me a platform to promote those ideals and make sure that everyone in my class feels heard, represented, and appreciated. Growing as a professional and as a person has been perhaps the most fulfilling and exciting part of my time so far here at the School, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!