I would like to take the opportunity to share with everyone how I was able to persistently pursue my career and become successful in achieving my goal after coming to Canada. I graduated from Lovely Institute Of Pharmacy in 2007 which is a very well known and well respected University and in 2008, got an opportunity to start the path to my career in Canada. Being a new graduate, I was very excited and passionate to start working in my field. However, it wasn’t easy to find a job in pharmacy initially as we need to evaluate our certificates and clear exams to work as a Registered Pharmacist in Canada. After 3 months, I found a job in Medisystem Pharmacy as an Automated Technician. This wasn’t where I wanted to work for the rest of my life. So, I started working 5 days and began prepping for the evaluation exams alongside. With all the knowledge I gained from Lovely Institute and God’s grace, I was able to clear all my exams in first attempt. Later on, I did my studentship and internship as a volunteer for almost 1 year in Shoppers Drug Mart#770 and continued working as an Automated technician during this year.
Finally, I became a registered Pharmacist in 2011 and got my first job in Shoppers Drug Mart#1093 working as a Pharmacist. Within a year, I got promoted as a Pharmacy Manager and started to feel I was another step closer to my dreams. However, being a manager was another milestone I had to pass through and my dream was to run a Shoppers Drug Mart store on my own. So, I shared my goal with my Associate who was encouraging but at the same time, she mentioned that it has been becoming very competitive process over the last couple years to own an individual store. Regardless, I had a belief in me and faith in God which forced me to apply anyways even though there were 40 other applicants in line. Finally, I was able to successfully clear all four interviews with different District Managers and Vice President. After all this, I was one of the final two candidates and decision was going to be based on the results of an caliper (IQ) test which was a real stressful time of my life but I was fortunate enough to have a supportive family who gave me all the strength and motivation that I needed to keep me going. At last, the decision was made and I became an Associate Owner of Shoppers Drug Mart #1460 in 2014. This was the year when my dreams came true.
Now, I have been working as an Associate Owner from last two and a half years. I am also a Certified Diabetes Educator presently which gives me the ability to gain further diverse knowledge in my profession. Last but not least, I would like to thank Lovely Professional University, my Teachers, Shoppers Drug Mart , my friends and my family for all their support and guidance during this journey.
Always remember, Success is an evolving formula not driven by chance or luck, just execution.
-Jaspreet Kaur Sodhi
Class of 2007
