Chevening Networking essay
Networking is hard. It requires you to be engaging and communicate your thoughts while still listening to others. It is an art form, a skill that a lot of person struggle to develop. However it's a skill that is essential for almost all jobs and careers.
As an alumna of a prominent high school, I knew the relationships I developed here would serve me long into my future career. My network from high school consists of doctors, lawyers, politicians, entrepreneurs and innovators set to lead Jamaica into its brighter future. I have fostered and nurtured this component of my network by becoming a member of my high school's alumni association for over 2 years. In this association, we host numerous alumni gatherings such as the recent Son Las Cinco event which spanned over 3 months. The association also does fundraisers such as the Hall of Fame dinner that seeks to contribute to the school's scholarship fund. The scholarships fund is used to assist deserving students to attend the high school but also paves a way for their future by also contributing to their university's tuition.
I continued building my network in university, however this was a more narrowed and focused network needed for my future pharmacy career. I was secretary for the University of Technology Association of Pharmaceutical Students (UTAPS) for one year and this developed my love for volunteering within my profession. Being secretary of UTAPS, I was exposed to experienced pharmacists and pharmacy owners from various parts of the country thus creating a stepping stone for my future career. UTAPS is considered the little sister to the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica (PSJ), and once I graduated I quickly joined PSJ. The society is responsible for promoting the career of pharmacy in Jamaica and listening to the needs and wants of the profession and finding ways to execute them. I serve on the membership committee tasked with finding innovative ways to encourage new members to join thus widening the pharmacy network. I, along with other committee members have spearheaded networking events such as Games nights and recreational trips encouraging more pharmacists to join the society and build a lasting relationship with their peers. The membership committee is also responsible for adding new benefits to joining the society such as lower cost indemnity insurance plans and group health insurance for freelance pharmacists. My position in this society has led me to developing a larger network due to interactions with health insurance companies, caterers, and managers of hotels as well as other pharmacists I might have never otherwise met.
The examples given above are just a portion of my network and does not include the relationships I have developed as a pharmacist and a trainer for pharmacy technicians. With my vast network, I would leverage my existing relationships to further advance my work in Jamaica's health care system. I would like to develop a scholarship program tailored for the pharmacy degree making it a bit easier for persons to enter the profession. Finally I would like to develop further research opportunities for Jamaican pharmacists, as this is a large part of our capabilities that I feel is greatly underutilized.
