Two weeks ago, I went from having no degree, to graduating with a Pharmacy Doctorate! If that’s not zero to one hundred then I don’t know what is.

After eight crazy years, I finally did it! And it was no basic degree honey, I graduated with honors…Cum Laude.

I kept much of my school life away from the blog because this space was my escape from the stress it brought me. When I started this blog, I had just begun pharmacy school and the stress had driven me to the point where I felt like I had made a career mistake, one I could not back away from as I had already invested four years of pre-pharmacy school. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Those down days toughened me up and made me appreciate what I have now even more.

When people need a release, they get a drink, go party or smoke a cig. Me, I write, or go on an adventure. This blog was a space that reminded me to live and not simply exist. Creating content for this site required me to do stuff that wasn’t school related, which gave me a break from my routine and kept me sane.

Transitioning from undergrad to a doctorate program was really tough on me and my grades suffered. That’s what was stressing me out so much­­­­–I’d never had to worry about my performance in school and yet there was, test after test, performing below my expectations. I had to get into the culture of studying everyday and being very disciplined about it.

My journey throughout pharmacy school has been insane, to say the least. A lot of people cry on graduation day, I did not. I left all my tears in pharmacy school. I like to joke that the Pharm. D. program took all my emotions from me, and I’m now dead inside.

Graduation day for me was not emotional (thank God, cos I hate being all up in my feelings). I only get emotional when things unexpectedly happen to me (that’s why I hate surprises).

My graduation didn’t take me by surprise, I worked for that shit. I have never worked for something so hard in my life before, like I did for my doctorate. I knew how much effort I had put in, going up to 32 hours straight without sleeping, the emotional toll it had taken on me, and how much my parents had invested. I walked up on that stage ready to take what was mine and when they called out my name, the first thought that came to mind was “Kiwedde,” a phrase in my language Luganda, meaning, It is done. I had attained something that no one can ever take away from me.

My day went just how I wanted, with high energy, positive vibes and everything good. Most of my family came, we celebrated and the whole moment was simply amazing.

My time during pharmacy school is worthy of a book. The program itself isn’t too bad if you do everything they ask, but that’s not how life works. What makes it challenging is that it requires a lot of your time and focus, while at the same time you’re dealing with life’s shortcomings…that’s what makes it tough.

I have literally grown up in Pharmacy school. I had just turned 19 when I came from Uganda to start university. I had never been to the United States, knew no one in Texas, but had a lot of determination, a winner’s mindset, family support and Allah by my side. Since then, I have taken life one day at a time, tackled challenges as they have come and today, I am here, Dr. Mahbuba Matovu. With time, I will tell my stories, but for the next few posts, I want to share this amazing, this life changing, this best moment of my life!