My Extended Family
“The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.”
Now while we don’t share diseases or toothpaste, we tend to share just about everything else here at UHCOP. I will even go as far as saying that we are a family. I honestly didn’t know what to expect before starting pharmacy school. I just knew there would be quite a bit of studying. While the studying part definitely holds true, we find time to do many other activities that makes the studying less daunting.
Being involved in professional organizations gives us an opportunity to see what the world of pharmacy (outside of studying) is all about. Having had the opportunity to attend a national conference this summer, it further reaffirmed my slightly biased opinion that pharmacy is the best profession around!
On a more serious note, our profession is constantly changing and evolving, and as a student it brings be great joy to know that I am a member of an institution that is moving with the times. Under the leadership of Dean Pritchard, the faculty, and many ambitious student leaders, I have seen our college take strides to ensure that a degree from this institution holds considerable weight once we graduate and begin our careers. This is what I mean when I say that we’re a family here at UHCOP. We challenge one another in a way that nurtures and allows us to further develop into great professionals. This is truly an environment that fosters growth — academically, professionally, and socially.
Often times, people ask, “What is pharmacy school like?” I always respond by saying that pharmacy school resembles high school minus the bells and whistles. We spend so much time together; I know everything from their favorite ice cream to who their favorite musical artist is. I often find myself referencing a quote that I heard when I graduated from high school many years ago. “Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart.”
As fast paced and difficult as pharmacy school is, I know that I won’t be alone. I won’t be alone because I have my family. I have 111 brothers and sisters that will be trudging along with me, “sharing diseases and toothpaste, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.”
As you can see, I’m glad I have 111 brothers and sisters!
Osagie Tony Ohonba
University of Houston College of Pharmacy
PharmD Student Class of 2015
University of Houston College of Pharmacy 
I really could not agree more with the comment that was posted by Tony. UH College of Pharmacy has indeed become like a family to me. After having gone through undergrad, I thought I was in for more of the same. Find parking on campus, go to class, then leave. Boy was I wrong. I have become actively involved in so many great organizations and events in the UH College of Pharmacy. Pharmacy school really has become my life…but not in a bad way.
In pharmacy school it is of great benefit to each student to make friends and form connection. Pharmacy is an incredibly small world. UH College of Pharmacy provides an amazing amount of opportunities to network and build friendships. This will especially come in handy as the job market gets more and more saturated. The connections, leadership opportunities, community service events that the UH College of Pharmacy provides are a great way for a student to stand out from the pack as the time for job searching draws nearer.
I couldn’t be happier about my choice to join the UH College of Pharmacy and I hope that any interested people come visit us to see what we are all about.