Ibadan: A pharmacy undergraduate, Miss Tiamiyu Omotayo, has shared her experiences on the mental, emotional, and academic pressures associated with studying pharmacy. Omotayo, a student of Lead City University, Ibadan, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) about the challenges of balancing academic expectations, personal well-being, and career aspirations in pharmacy school. She called for greater understanding and support for students in demanding health science programs.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Omotayo’s journey has been shaped by both inspiring academic experiences and moments of self-doubt, particularly around academic validation and performance. She noted that practical exposure through internships helped her cope with the rigors of pharmacy education by bridging the gap between theory and real-life practice. Omotayo emphasized the importance of transitioning from theory to clinical practice to appreciate classroom learning.
Reflecting on her mental health challenges, Omotayo identified coping with unmet personal expectations regarding academic performance as one of her biggest struggles. She explained that while her grades were good, they did not align with the standards she had set for herself from a young age, which affected her emotionally. Despite this, she managed stress by intentionally taking breaks, reflecting, and reminding herself of her long-term goals.
Looking ahead, Omotayo is considering multiple career paths after graduation, including community or hospital pharmacy, as well as emerging fields such as bioinformatics. She highlighted essential skills needed to succeed in pharmacy, such as communication, comprehension, memory retention, and resilience. Omotayo advised prospective pharmacy students to pursue the course out of passion rather than financial expectations.
Omotayo’s account underscores growing concerns about student mental health and the need for stronger academic counseling and support systems in pharmacy schools and other demanding programs across Nigerian universities.