Graduation Jitters

[Doctor Jay 23]

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Is anyone else about to graduate and starting to freak out?!? Not just about actually starting your career, but about moving into a place of your own, making and really sticking to a budget, and other real life, grown-up stuff. Because I am! Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited and thankful, but it really is a lot. How do you handle it all?

 

[lauradiddle]

Is anyone else about to graduate and starting to freak out?!? Not just about actually starting your career, but about moving into a place of your own, making and really sticking to a budget, and other real life, grown-up stuff. Because I am! Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited and thankful, but it really is a lot. How do you handle it all?

I haven't even started pharm school and I've already been doing that. Non-trad students FTW?

 

[megandupe]

I haven't even started pharm school and I've already been doing that. Non-trad students FTW?

Ya me too, and i'm not non-traditional either.
Weird.

 

[AlmostAPharmD]

Is anyone else about to graduate and starting to freak out?!? Not just about actually starting your career, but about moving into a place of your own, making and really sticking to a budget, and other real life, grown-up stuff. Because I am! Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited and thankful, but it really is a lot. How do you handle it all?

YES!!! I am doing just this. I am terrified that A) I will HATE my new job as a retail pharmacist....or B) Will suck at it.....It's also surreal that school is actually over and I will be starting a big girl job.

 

[Moxxie]

Ya me too, and i'm not non-traditional either.
Weird.

Yeah, weird. Not to bash on you young'uns, but the second I left for undergrad at age 17 I was on my own as far as managing my own budget, having to wash clothes, cook meals, etc. Of course, I had been doing that on my own in high school, too - my parents believed in teaching me life skills up front. I had my own checking account at age 16, had to buy clothes with own money starting around then, etc.

Maybe it's cultural?

 

[jnmnh]

As someone probably older than most new grads - and just starting pharm school - you could have it worse, haha... the main thing to being an adult is not being a wild child. Just keep living like a student for a year (auto-defer to retirement & savings so your eyes don't bulge at your checking acct). Be sure to actually start saving for retirement now.

There's really not too much more to being an adult than not splurging your paycheck and not doing things that can get you arrested!

 

[Sparda29]

Yeah, weird. Not to bash on you young'uns, but the second I left for undergrad at age 17 I was on my own as far as managing my own budget, having to wash clothes, cook meals, etc. Of course, I had been doing that on my own in high school, too - my parents believed in teaching me life skills up front. I had my own checking account at age 16, had to buy clothes with own money starting around then, etc.

Maybe it's cultural?

Yep its cultural (Indian here), parents don't want me to move out until I get a nice paying job + get married. And after that, they'd end up wanting to move in with me.

Which is why when looking for residencies, I'm gonna look for something far, far, far away so I can live alone for a year or two.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

The worst part of your life is over and now you can enjoy being an adult.

You shouldn't feel scared. Your life is about to begin.

 

[confettiflyer]

but about moving into a place of your own, making and really sticking to a budget, and other real life, grown-up stuff.

this didn't happen when you started pharm school?

wth? 😕

 

[spacecowgirl]

Non-trad here too and cannot relate. I also cannot relate to the "should I move back home with my parents" threads. WTF?

 

[confettiflyer]

Non-trad here too and cannot relate. I also cannot relate to the "should I move back home with my parents" threads. WTF?

I'm not really a non-trad and I can't relate either. I'd go crazy if I moved home, and I love my parents/family.

 

[Allure]

Non-trad here too and cannot relate. I also cannot relate to the "should I move back home with my parents" threads. WTF?

I'm with you. I've been out on my own way before pharmacy school and I would never move back in with my parents. I want to save money, but not that much.

 

[bananaface]

Pretty soon our parents will be wanting to move in with US. 😀

 

[Doctor Jay 23]

YES!!! I am doing just this. I am terrified that A) I will HATE my new job as a retail pharmacist....or B) Will suck at it.....It's also surreal that school is actually over and I will be starting a big girl job.

I thought it was just me! I'm going into retail too with a good company (that's what everyone says) But these 4 years MUST'VE been preparing us for something right? 🙂

 

[Doctor Jay 23]

Yeah, weird. Not to bash on you young'uns, but the second I left for undergrad at age 17 I was on my own as far as managing my own budget, having to wash clothes, cook meals, etc. Of course, I had been doing that on my own in high school, too - my parents believed in teaching me life skills up front. I had my own checking account at age 16, had to buy clothes with own money starting around then, etc.

Maybe it's cultural?

I can only speak for myself, but I believe we've all been managing simple responsibilities like washing clothes, not bouncing checks, stretching out loan money for the semester, etc.. but do believe its a different feeling when you lose the title of "student" from your name and it really is ALL up to you to do what you've been working toward for the past 4+ years.

 

[Doctor Jay 23]

The worst part of your life is over and now you can enjoy being an adult.

You shouldn't feel scared. Your life is about to begin.

I guess you just need to hear someone else say it so you know its not a dream. Thanks!😉

 

[Doctor Jay 23]

this didn't happen when you started pharm school?

wth? 😕

Oh, it happened. I lived on campus, but to me, that's not the same as living in a "real" apartment that has no affiliation with the school you go to. I have been a very independent person all of my life, but I'm just speaking of the actual transition from student to doctor.

 

[spacecowgirl]

It is weird and scary when you are in charge and the responsibility of those prescriptions falls on you. But that doesn't last long; rely on your techs, develop a pattern and for god's sake go as slowly as you need to, metrics be damned.

 

[megandupe]

It is weird and scary when you are in charge and the responsibility of those prescriptions falls on you. But that doesn't last long; rely on your techs, develop a pattern and for god's sake go as slowly as you need to, metrics be damned.

Wait, what does this have to do with managing finances and living independently?

Going from student to doctor = going from undergrad to becoming a professional.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Wait, what does this have to do with managing finances and living independently?

Going from student to doctor = going from undergrad to becoming a professional.

I'm more worried about the stuff spacecowgirl mentioned than I am about "managing finances and living independently." Probably because I've been doing that for years, but I've never been the one in charge in a pharmacy before.

 

[Doctor Jay 23]

it is weird and scary when you are in charge and the responsibility of those prescriptions falls on you. But that doesn't last long; rely on your techs, develop a pattern and for god's sake go as slowly as you need to, metrics be damned.

amen!

 

[UES Girl]

I'm more worried about the stuff spacecowgirl mentioned than I am about "managing finances and living independently." Probably because I've been doing that for years, but I've never been the one in charge in a pharmacy before.

Seriously , the two can't even be compared. If I am late on my cell phone bill payment, no big deal. If I screw up someone's coag, they could be dead.

 

[MindOverMatter]

The worst part of your life is over and now you can enjoy being an adult.

You shouldn't feel scared. Your life is about to begin.

Amen.

 

[lauradiddle]

Not to mention if the idea of sticking to a budget is frightening on a pharmacists salary, you probably have bigger problems...

 

[meister]

I graduate in a year and the thought of being an intern scares me to death. I'm not sure if that would be better or worse than being a fully licensed RPh in a year with 100% responsibility for everything.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Wait, what does this have to do with managing finances and living independently?

Going from student to doctor = going from undergrad to becoming a professional.

Just responding to Doctor Jay, dear.

I can only speak for myself, but I believe we've all been managing simple responsibilities like washing clothes, not bouncing checks, stretching out loan money for the semester, etc.. but do believe its a different feeling when you lose the title of "student" from your name and it really is ALL up to you to do what you've been working toward for the past 4+ years.