'How I Overcame Cultural Barriers and Self-Doubt': A pharmacy student's journey to self-esteem

In a world where success often means doing well in school and earning praise, I often find myself feeling stuck between knowing I am good enough and doubting myself. As a pharmacy student, my journey is not just about learning medicine or doing well on exams, it is also about dealing with doubts because I came from a different country. I have those days when I wonder if I fit in or if I am just pretending. But even with all the challenges, I am learning how to bounce back and believe in myself.

In sharing my story, I want to show that many people go through tough times, and I want to help by giving practical advice. Looking back on my journey, I've figured out some simple things that helped me deal with feeling unsure of myself and anxious.

I've come to understand that nobody's flawless in everything they do. It's perfectly normal to need time to learn and to connect with others. I've also discovered the importance of trusting in my abilities and being proud of how far I've come. Even though pharmacy school is incredibly challenging, particularly when adapting to a new country and language, acknowledging my progress has been a crucial part of staying motivated.

By sharing what I've learned, I hope to help others who might be going through similar struggles, showing them they're not alone and giving them some ideas for feeling better about themselves.


— submitted by Bayan Mashaal, second-year pharmacy student

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