One in a Million Valedictory Speech by the Best Graduating Student of Pharmacy Faculty in Uyo — Class of 2024

Tears rolled down my big eyes as I saw the inducted pharmacist of the University of Uyo today in their induction ceremony. Do you know what it takes to be inducted? Do you know what they passed through, the thick and thin of school challenges, to be a certified pharmacist? You won't know until you're in their shoes. Many dropped along the line. Only 110 students were inducted as pharmacists.

To study a broad course in drugs, research, chemistry and chemical anatomy for 6 years is worth celebrating if you can survive it. My 32 teeth felt cold when the Best Graduating Student, a determined young student of the department of pharmacy, gave his valedictory speech in tears after seeing his parents and siblings shed tears of joy. I'll allow his words to touch you with the little I could cover.

Are you an aspirant? Pharmacy is for you. Pharmacy is for you, but it's also a choice of if it fits you.To make it in the department of pharmacy doesn't mean being the best scorer in JAMB. It's far from that. One of the choices you'll have to make is dedication and hard hardwork as pharmacy isn't for the faint-hearted or, as the people would say, the weak.

Joseph Akpan, the best graduating student, got more than 15 awards for being the best in a particular speciality in the faculty of pharmacy, as it has lots of departments one can venture into. Let me write his experience down. Joseph said, as I quote

I was a game addict when I started my journey on this programme. My gaming lifestyle made me trade my academics for middle grades. I saw 3 Cs in courses that had 3-5 credit units. I started to see things clearly and promised myself never to have a C in any course. My determination to not have a C was reflected in my dedication and hard work towards attaining excellence in all my endeavours. I was, though the people say — a Promise Keeper.

I had to sacrifice my addiction and toxic friends to stand where I'm standing today. Yes, anyone can succeed. All you need to do is

• Pray to God

• Put in the necessary work

• Make some sacrifices

• Make friends that share your aspirations

• Avoid unnecessary distractions

• Share what you learn with others, and you'll come to see that succeeding in pharmacy is a choice.

Why was this touching? He graduated with a distinction of 4.85. It's only someone who's determined to win that can be a champion. He shared his struggles during his studies. He spent sleepless nights, reading to make it in the department. His friends say he doesn't skip a day without reading and researching. That's when determination comes in.

I was just lost in his words. It was as if he were speaking to me directly because it was my dream to become a pharmacist, but I made a choice not to. **I understood my limitations, not in intelligence or hardwork but in finances, responsibilities [physically and spiritually] and the likes. **Probably if I had continued in the department, I would have sacrificed STEEMIT and CRYPTO TRADING to chase my dreams.

Before I got admission to study Pharmacy in 2022, I already had an admission to study Chemistry Education. I wasted my score of 276 for medicine but didn't get admitted. So I decided to move into pharmacy, but it was already too late, as I would have done that since. Misinformation was part of the journey. It was as if God was just withholding certain things from me, considering my limitations I didn't see.

I had no other option but to study Chemistry Education which the chemistry is pharmacy-related and the teaching is what I enjoy doing and am known for. I started my life in Chemistry Education and applied for JAMB the following year. I got admitted and had to forfeit one and continue with the other.

This was when I weighed my limitations and saw that it would be an emotional disaster if I took this decision. I decided to forfeit my admission to study pharmacy and continue with Chemistry Education. You may blame me for such a decision, but I personally do not blame myself. I may have dropped out along the line, not on an intellectual basis, but because of the responsibilities on my shoulders. The stress of studying this programme, Pharmacy wasn't something I could contend with.

This is a picture of me with the best graduating student for girls and one of the brains behind pharmacy. Seeing these inductees made me remember my past life. I was on a solid 5.0 CGPA during my first year in school, as I was committed to academic excellence. It's a long story, though. All I know is that I made a choice, and that choice may have given me a solid future if I did otherwise. On the other hand, I would have lost my morals because I would have been subject to debts and family problems if I had continued.