22-year-old Fayola Blair recently graduated with a degree in pharmacy. Her journey, marked by challenges and triumphs, serves as an inspiration to many young women and youths aspiring to make their mark in the medical field.
Fayola Blair spent her early childhood years in Stewartville on the West Coast of Demerara, Region Three. However, at age 2, she moved to Fellowship. Fellowship is a small village on the West Coast of Demerara often mixed up with Den-Amstel.
There she attended the Den-Amstel Nursery School and thereafter the Den-Amstel Primary School. Subsequently, in Grade 4 she transferred and continued her Primary Education at the Leonora Primary School. After writing NGSA, Blair copped a spot at Queen’s College. Hailing from the West Coast kid, the distance was tough but she made the best of her secondary education at Queen’s College.
After completing her secondary education at Queen’s College, Blair went on to pursue studies at the University of Guyana (UG). She graduated from UG in November 2023 and completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. “In my final year of study, along with the members of my research group: Terriann Benn and Steffi Ramdhan, we completed a research titled: The Use of Natural Products to Combat Dandruff: The Development of an Antifungal Shampoo,” she stated.
On May 7th at the Annual College of Medical Sciences Award Ceremony, Fayola and team were awarded “Best Undergraduate Research”. They were thrilled to know that a year of hard work paid off.
Fayola’s Award
By religion, Fayola is a Christian. She grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and it was her church that helped her become a better person. The church gave her opportunities to perfect her craft. “Being involved in the Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs, shaped me into the person I am today. I am the eldest daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and cousin on my Mother’s side, so I’ve always had people looking up to me and expecting the best from me. Sometimes the weight of their expectations crushed me, but I am still striving to be someone that my sister and cousins can look up to,” Blair mentioned.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, singing, going to the gym, and doing Zumba. Beyond academics, she found time to volunteer, During her fourth year of university, she served as President of the Pharmacy Students’ Association, which led to opportunities at the Guyana Pharmacists Association and the Caribbean Pharmacists Association. That position provided lots of networking opportunities for Blair. Her involvement in the university’s pharmacy club, where she served as president, allowed her to mentor younger students and organize events that promoted health awareness.
While being a full-time student, she also ran her mother’s small business Trice’s Delight. Being in an online mode gave her an advantage, however, the struggles of running a business and university made her burnt out.
“Pharmacy wasn’t a first choice. It was my aunt who recommended pharmacy to me. Through extensive research and lots of YouTube videos, I was able to make an informed decision. Initially, I applied for Medical Laboratory Science, Biology, and Pharmacy- Pharmacy being the first option. When I received my acceptance letter from the School of Pharmacy, I was ecstatic,” Blair told this publication.
However, the path to achieving her dream was not without obstacles. Her first year of Pharmacy School was tough and many times, she questioned if this course was really for her. However, she’s grown to love Pharmacy. Despite the challenge, she loved each part of Pharmacy School.
“The challenges, the last-minute submissions, the labs, the tears- I’d do it all again if I had to. Being able to network with other pharmacists around Guyana and the Caribbean, I was able to see pharmacy as the beautiful profession it is. Through research, I was educated on the vast scope of pharmacy. The versatility this degree allows me is something I would never trade. From Industrial Pharmacy, to Hospital Pharmacy, to Distribution- the possibilities are endless,” Blair added.
Currently, her next goal is to complete her upcoming internship and receive her Pharmacy License so that she can begin practicing as a Registered Pharmacist in Guyana. She will also further studies in the said field.
Blair’s biggest challenge during university was discipline. At first, she struggled to balance my academic life and my personal life. She struggled to manage time and prioritize what’s important. Further, she added: “Journaling and having lists helped me to overcome these challenges. The addition of going to the Gym to my routine allowed me to have balanced days and not become overwhelmed by studies.”
That balance gave her a lot of stability and the little rewards, acted as extrinsic motivation factors giving her the drive she needed to keep going. Deleting social media during the semester helped her to focus more as well.
Graduating with a degree in pharmacy, was a moment of immense pride and joy for Fayola and her loved ones. As she walked across the stage to receive her degree she felt a profound sense of accomplishment. For her, it was a culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering determination.
“I’d like to advise young people to dream big and to have wild dreams. There is nothing you cannot accomplish. Most importantly to the persons attending University or thinking of attending university- It is more than just studies, University is an experience and you need to make the most of it. Be involved in clubs, go to events, spend time with your friends- do not isolate yourself and have regrets at the end of it all. To the pharmacy students- make the most of both associations. Make the most of all experiences, all conventions, all conferences – they’re free for students. Never give up an opportunity to network and form meaningful relationships with other persons in the profession. And to the youths remember you just need to make a start, if you apply if not, 4 years would’ve gone by. Why not have a degree at the end of it?,” is Fayola’s advice for youth.