Jess Lagaluga-Hutchings
Jess Lagaluga-Hutchings thought her career path was fixed, but after stumbling into the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme, she finally found a place where she belonged.
“I wouldn’t say I had a specific job in mind growing up, but I knew I wanted to work in health. I grew up with very close family members going in and out of the hospital and needing to access multiple healthcare services. This exposure at a young age influenced my passion for working in this field.
“Throughout high school, I had two pathways. One was to go into the arts and pursue graphic design and photography, and the other was science. It took me until I applied for undergrad programmes to decide which way I would go.
I feel as though I stumbled into Pharmacy, and having arrived, it felt like a place I wanted to continue to be a part of.
“I wish I had known before starting University that it’s okay to change your mind. When I applied and started at the University, I thought my pathway was fixed, and my life would follow a particular trajectory. It took me a while to realise that this was not the case, and if I wasn’t enjoying aspects of what I was pursuing, I was under no obligation to continue. If it weren’t for these moments of uncertainty and feeling lost, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“As a BPharm student, I enjoyed the content I was learning, the staff, lecturers and tutors and the wider pharmacy school. There was space for everyone to express themselves, and I felt supported and encouraged by my peers and the academic staff. So much of achieving to a high standard is based on your enjoyment of the people you are surrounded by. I was fortunate enough to have that whilst studying in this programme.”