This September marked my five-year milestone volunteering as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Accompanying my mentoring journey has included several exciting professional achievements, including successfully completing my undergraduate pharmacy degree and year one pharmacy practice residency. While I may not have known how to balance my personal, professional, and academic commitments, in retrospect, volunteering helped contribute to achieving these goals.
Ryan Chan, NYMAC Member
I view volunteering as akin to direct-patient care; both represent a gift of service through community engagement and building rapport with others. Additionally, volunteering has allowed me to connect with individuals and understand the ‘patient behind the care’, reinforcing the importance of empathy, understanding, and effective communication. These lessons have ultimately served me well as I navigated clinical duties and tailored patient teachings to my target audience. Mentoring has also provided me with purpose by blending professional advocacy through educating community members about the expanding scope of pharmacy practice.
While managing these commitments has taken intentional time and practice, it continues to empower me with a sense of fulfilment. Mentoring has taught me transferable skills of time management, resilience, and the gift of service—lessons that will continue serving me well. As I reflect on this rewarding journey, I am inspired about my future and the reciprocal benefits of volunteering.
