My ethnicity is Indian however, I’m a true Scot at heart being born and bred in Glasgow. I feel blessed to have grown up in this beautiful city which is my home. I completed the MPharm Pharmacy degree at the University of Strathclyde because healthcare has always been an area which I am passionate about. I also have a great interest in the travel/tourism and modelling/acting industries and so I also work in these areas on the side. I would like to thank the best university ever, the University of Strathclyde, for making my university experience the most beautiful years of my life. I’ve made memories that I will treasure for life and I’m genuinely blessed to be a #strathclyderforlife.
What were your reasons for studying pharmacy?
As a student I was always interested in science and healthcare. From the early years of my life I knew I wanted to pursue a degree which would involve taking care of patients and enable me to work in a hospital.
How did you make the decision to study at Strathclyde?
It was my dream to study at Strathclyde. 20 years ago my Mum was a student there herself so I had grown up hearing from her how amazing the University was. Now my little brother is studying at Strathclyde too, I guess it’s becoming a family legacy to study at Strathclyde!
What did you like about your course and Strathclyde?
I think Strathclyde is situated in the best part of the city, the city centre, as everything is accessible. I loved how friendly the students and professors were as it makes it an excellent environment to study.
What specialist knowledge/professional skills did you develop whilst studying the course?
Over my 4 years at Strathclyde I was exposed to many great events and conferences, which ultimately shaped me into becoming a confident versatile individual. I gained lots of academic knowledge while studying my MPharm degree which led me to gain all the essential skills I will need as a pharmacist.
As well as developing my knowledge and professional skills, I also developed my personal skills. In second year I joined the British Pharmaceutical Students' Association (BPSA) and by third year I was the BPSA lead for Strathclyde. This role involved organising the Strathclyde BPSA team, organising pharmacy conferences, inviting guest speakers and organising pharmacy competitions and study sessions. Over the years, as a result of being part of the BPSA I got the opportunity to go to Birmingham and attend the annual conference where I got the opportunity to meet pharmacy students from all over UK.
During my final year I joined the European Pharmaceutical Students' Association (EPSA) where my university sponsored me to go to Basel, Switzerland to attend the EPSA conference. I was also the student representative for my course for 3 years and was elected as the Strathclyde Science student representative at COP26 where I got the opportunity to ask First Minister Nicola Sturgeon questions at a BBC conference.
What are your ambitions for the future and how do you think your time at Strathclyde will help you achieve your goals?
My time at Strathclyde taught me many lifelong skills thanks to the responsibilities that I took on as a pharmacy student. I developed skills like communication, organisation, prioritisation and teamwork and I aim to continuously develop these skills during my professional career. After graduating from Strathclyde, I got placed to do my foundation training year (pre-reg) in a hospital in London, so it was a big change moving from Glasgow to London. My future ambition is to excel in the field of pharmacy and to come back to Strathclyde to complete the Practice Certificate Independent Prescribing course, I can’t wait to be a Strathclyde student again!
What's your favourite thing about Glasgow?
My favourite thing about Glasgow is how friendly everyone is. I went to one of the smallest all-girls high schools in Scotland, so I had to adapt to my new university life and studying with so many people. However, after seeing how kind and supportive everyone was, I instantly felt that I naturally belonged to Strathclyde and had always been there. My favourite thing about Strathclyde was the friendly atmosphere, the new student union, all the food places near the university (Tim Hortons and Yippon being my absolute favourites) and the library. I love the layout of the Andersonian Library as it is divided into different noise sections depending on how you want to study.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to study at Strathclyde?
I’d say fully enjoy your university life at Strathclyde. Grab opportunities, make friends and just enjoy what will be some of the most memorable and unforgettable years of your life. People Make Glasgow and students and staff make University of Strathclyde.
