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The Best Medicine is a Career Purpose:
Meet Ukrainian Immigrant, Sergey Fouks,
GlobalMindED Class of 2017 and PhD in Pharmacy 2020
I graduated high school in 2008 and still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Typical of some young men, I wasn't the most motivated student in high school. I believe, in hindsight, my lack of direction was because I didn't have a true goal to work towards. After many arguments with my parents after graduation, I attended a community college despite my opposition. I finished one semester and did not reapply. I spent the next few years working a low-skill job and honing my social circle. I did this for almost 2 years before realizing what I wanted to do! It was a somewhat spontaneous realization but the feeling was powerful and real.
I wanted to practice medicine, but more definitively, I wanted to become a pharmacist. That day marked my beginning of purpose. I applied to undergraduate courses with a laser-like focus working toward grad school. I acquired my undergrad degree in 3 years instead of 4, then applied to two schools of pharmacy and was accepted into my second choice. Then during grad school, not only did I earn my doctorate but also a master's degree simultaneously. After graduation, I spent a few months looking for my first job and I landed as a pharmacy manager at a retail pharmacy in Aurora, CO. It wasn't the most appealing place to work but it allowed me to hone my skills as a pharmacist and leader. I worked in that position for a year and a half before starting my dream job as a pharmacy manager at the Walmart pharmacy in beautiful Frisco in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
I was first introduced to GlobalMindEd during my second year in pharmacy school. As an immigrant from Ukraine, the opportunities provided by GlobalMindED sounded quite appealing! I was invited to a 2-day conference at the Denver Convention Center for education and networking. I came prepared, attended every workshop possible, and learned so much in two days about leadership, community, the future of innovation, philanthropy, and humanity. It was an incredibly eye-opening experience. I would recommend the GlobalMindED program to anyone driven to make their mark in the world.
One of my greatest moments that led me to where I am today was, surprisingly one of the lowest points in my life. After high school and a couple of years after my one semester of community college, I had absolutely no direction and was drifting through life. I had been drifting for so long that life started to feel pretty pointless. At that moment, I had a stroke of clarity. From then on, I felt a powerful sense of direction. I was no longer drifting. I was swimming at full speed toward a bunch of small goals which led to larger goals, which led to 5-year goals, which led to 10-year goals. Each of these small goals has led me to the desire to help as many people as possible in my short time in this life. My advice to anyone struggling with purpose is to take one small step, and then another, and another.....you will find your way!
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