大象影院

By Krista Roberts听

When听Samantha Watson was in middle school, she dreamed of becoming听a doctor. Through many ups,听downs and detours along the way, she听realized听her dream Friday when she finally held听that title, Doctor of Pharmacy, from听the 大象影院听College of Pharmacy.听听

鈥淚t鈥檚 very surreal,鈥澨�Watson听said. 鈥淭he magnitude of it hasn鈥檛 hit me yet.鈥�听

Her journey is one of sheer determination to end her battle with depression听and anxiety听and听to听fight her way back to realizing her dream. There were times she wanted to give up, but with a great deal of support from her family and friends, and听after听starting her own family,听she鈥檚 right where she听wants to听be.听

A Challenging Beginning

Growing up with a bipolar parent,听Watson听and her siblings faced difficult moments shrouded by fear and uncertainty听at a young age.听鈥淭here鈥檚 so much stigma around mental illness, and I internalized my fear that it would happen to me as well,鈥� she said.听听

Despite these challenges,听Watson听forged ahead and pursued a degree at Baylor University听while on scholarship.听Early on, she was interested in forensic science.听It was during an exam that she experienced her first panic attack, feeling as though she couldn鈥檛 breathe.听She sought counseling and听was diagnosed with depression and anxiety.听听

鈥凄别辫谤别蝉蝉颈辞苍听was my battle,听and it became exacerbated听in college,鈥� she said.听鈥�Many times, I thought I couldn鈥檛 finish, and I didn鈥檛 know what I was going to do.鈥�听

Watson听continued to work hard and听had her eye on medical school.听After graduating with a master’s degree in Medical Science from 大象影院鈥檚听Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, she was accepted to medical school.听As her struggle pursued, she tried to cope, but found herself in a very dark space.听听

鈥淚 was pushing for perfection and walking a tight rope with my health,鈥� she recalled. She kept pushing herself and didn鈥檛 know how to stop. Before long, she was in the throes of major depression and decided to leave medical school.听听

鈥淚n retrospect, it was the best thing I could鈥檝e done. I had to find my own value and self-worth. It was a very rough time, and I didn鈥檛 know what to do with myself.鈥�听

A New Outlook

Watson听began substitute teaching and quickly discovered it suited her. With a master鈥�s听degree听under her belt, the school asked her to obtain an alternative teaching听certificate. She began teaching high school anatomy and physiology and听created their听first听forensic science program.听听

鈥淚t was trial by fire; I was just thrown in there,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was fun but tough. Teaching was a听life-saver听for me. I started to see my own intrinsic worth. I thought to myself, 鈥�I鈥檓 innovative, I can work under pressure, I can teach,听and I like it!鈥�听It was a great time to discover that about myself,听and teaching helped me find my confidence again.鈥�听

Another milestone was met when she married her听longtime听boyfriend, who had been by her side through her struggles, and they soon welcomed a baby boy.听听

Teaching eventually brought them back home to DFW, and that鈥檚 when her role as a teacher came full circle.听听

As she encountered students experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts, she realized she could become a support and a refuge听for them. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad that I was able to be there in that moment for those students. Out of everything I accomplished while teaching, this was my greatest contribution,鈥� she said with听great emotion.听听

As she gained more and more confidence and听her family grew with a second baby boy, she started to feel the听pull听of professional school again. Her husband was supportive, and she explored medical, physician assistant and pharmacy schools.

She credits fellow classmate,听Deidra Lee, who was also a teacher听at her school, with introducing her to pharmacy听and telling her that there was more to pharmacy than meets the eye.听

听鈥�It just felt right!鈥澨�Watson听reflected. 鈥�We both applied, interviewed and accepted the same day, and we started this journey together.鈥澨�听

鈥�Having Samantha on this听journey with me felt like home,鈥� Lee said as she reflected on the many values and experiences they鈥檝e shared.听鈥�We鈥檝e motivated each other and made sure that we both adhered to a standard of excellence throughout pharmacy school.听Samantha鈥檚 resilience, her professionalism, and dedication to her family are a few of the things听that I admire most about her.听Prior to pharmacy school Sam and I were colleagues. Through this journey, we鈥檝e bonded as lifelong friends. I have no doubt that she will be an amazing addition to the pharmacy profession!鈥�听

Although starting pharmacy school was intense, she wanted this experience to be different. She proactively sought out the Center for Academic Performance and counseling resources to听begin听on the right foot.听听

Watson听was older, more mature, a wife, a mother of two,听and听she听had听learned to cope with听her听anxiety听and depression. 鈥淚 was surprised by my own success,鈥� she said.听听

She was also surprised听to learn she was expecting her听third child听during her first semester, but she didn鈥檛 miss any school or skip a beat. 鈥淚 was proactive in communicating and very grateful for听a supportive听faculty,鈥� she added.听听

鈥淲hat has always impressed me about Student Pharmacist Watson is her tenacity for achievement,鈥� said Dr. Emanuel George, Associate Dean of Student Engagement and Alumni Affairs.鈥�鈥淚 am so proud of her perseverance to get to this very moment. She has proven hopefully听to听herself听that she is an overcomer.听I know she will make an impact as a pharmacist, and I look forward to her continued career growth and success.鈥�听

After teaching听for seven years,听Watson听said it was strange听being the student again.听听

鈥�It gave me a unique perspective,听and听I was able to听identify with the professors and understand what goes into preparation.鈥� Additionally, she听put her teaching expertise into practice听helping听fellow听students as a CAP tutor.听鈥淚 was in my element,鈥� she said.听听

Watson听excelled in pharmacy school and was accepted into the听Promoting Diversity in Research Training (PDRT) Program.听She听was selected for the Rho Chi honor society, Phi Delta Chi, and held leadership positions in the听Student National Pharmaceutical Association听and the Black Professional Pharmacy Association.听听

During her听fourth year听rotations, her interest in infectious disease clinical pharmacy grew, and she hopes to pursue a residency in the future. For now, she already has a job lined up with Walgreens as a pharmacist floater, covering Texas and southern Oklahoma.听听

鈥淚n the midst of things, I鈥檓 just living life and living day-by-day,鈥� she said.听鈥�I feel very fortunate for the things that have gone my way and for the things that haven鈥檛 gone my way. I鈥檓 most excited that my kids got to see me in school. I hope they feel proud of me.鈥�听

If听you have concerns听about your well-being or concern for another student, contact听the听Care Team听at (817) 735-2740 or CareTeam@unthsc.edu.听