Small class sizes,
modern facilities, and friendly nature of its students are what
attracted sixth-year pharmacy
major Maria Fatima Torres '09P to St. John’s University: “During my
senior year of high school I took a campus tour of St. John’s and
discovered that it offered everything that I was looking for in a
college. Not only does it have a reputable pharmacy program,
but its mission is centered on the same Catholic values that I was
raised with. Right away I knew St. John's would be my new 'home
away from home.'”
As a Student Ambassador and Parent Orientation Leader, Maria often
gets the opportunity to express her pride in the University, “I get
to speak to prospective students and their families and help ease
their anxiety about the college transition and at the same time
make friendships and develop social skills that I will be able to
use in other areas of my life.”
Throughout her four
undergraduate years at St. John’s, Maria experienced many things
that she feels have helped her become a more confident and caring
individual: “The pharmacy program continues to provide me with the
knowledge that I need to become a credible and responsible health
care professional. By taking on leadership roles in Rho Chi
Pharmacy Honor Society and Pharmacy Leadership Society, I have been
able to fully realize my interest in pharmacy.”
Upon graduation,
Maria plans to attend a post graduate pharmacy residency:
“Throughout my career I plan on working in both the ambulatory and
institutional settings so that I can provide care for different
patient populations.”
Although she admits
pharmacy is a challenging major, with self discipline and dedicated
study time, she feels students have the potential to excel in the
field, “Students should always remember to stay focused and
persevere because the end result of graduating as a Doctor of
Pharmacy is very rewarding.”
Maria attributes her
success in college to the fact that she does not just go to class
and study, but has also joined numerous clubs and organizations on
campus: “Take full advantage of everything the University has to
offer. It is through these opportunities that we learn more
about ourselves, others and different cultures, giving us a chance
to become more educated and well- rounded individuals. Learning
from experience, it is possible to have both a concentrated
academic life and a fun social life. As long as time is
managed wisely, pharmacy students should not be hesitant to be
open-minded in taking on ‘once in a life time opportunities.’”