On Nov. 8, the UF College of Pharmacy joined institutions nationwide in honoring the First-Generation College Celebration. Each year, nearly 1 in 5 incoming student pharmacists at UF are the first in their families to attend college, as they bring resilience, ambition and fresh perspectives to our campuses.
In recognition of the day, the UF College of Pharmacy is sharing the stories of first-gen student pharmacists who are embracing the challenges of college life and thriving along the way.
Danielle Buckler
For Danielle Buckler, a second-year student pharmacist at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy Jacksonville campus, being a first-generation college student means rewriting the narrative, which comes with both pride and pressure.
“Every exam, every quiz, every study session isn’t just for me,” Buckler said. “It’s for the generations to come, like my children who watch me struggle but never quit.”
Buckler’s journey in pharmacy began at the age of 19, when she started working full-time as a pharmacy technician at CVS, a role she enjoyed for nearly 20 years. However, looking for bigger opportunities that would allow her to counsel, advocate and lead in pharmacy, she decided to enroll in the Pharm.D. program at the UF College of Pharmacy.
“I know this may sound silly to some, but one of my proudest moments in pharmacy school was receiving that email that I had been accepted,” Buckler said. “That made everything real and showed all the hard work I had put in.”
Already having four children when she decided to begin her journey at UF, Buckler knew her time in the Pharm.D. program would require her to balance her studies with being a mother and a spouse with a household to maintain.
“My immediate family has been very supportive of my journey,” Buckler said. “There have been times I have sat on the bleachers during sporting events while also studying for an exam.”
Buckler’s advice to first-generation students considering pharmacy school is to not let your background be a barrier, and to take your experiences in life and use them to help you grow and exceed. She says she plans to open an independent community pharmacy that prioritizes patient education, chronic disease management and health equity when she graduates.
“The University of Florida has been instrumental in my journey,” Buckler said. “Faculty members are always there to cheer you along, upperclassmen share their knowledge and student organizations give you leadership opportunities to help you grow.”
Valentina Sopo Borraez
For much of her childhood in Bogotá, Colombia, the idea of attending college was not something Valentina Sopo Borraez considered. Family came first, and that bond guided her and her younger sister through their early years. When the family relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida, before her sophomore year of high school, Sopo Borraez was introduced to new academic possibilities. She quickly recognized the value of higher education, even as she worked to understand the steps required to get there.
The process was overwhelming at times. Navigating admissions, financial aid and scholarships on her own was challenging. Still, Sopo Borraez discovered resilience by reaching out and accepting guidance when she needed it.
“I found myself in situations navigating the college process where I had no idea what was going on, but I always found someone who could help me,” Sopo Borraez said. “Asking teachers, advisors and the upperclassmen in my high school for help was a strategy that worked well for me.
If I had to give advice to a fellow first-generation college student today, I would tell them to always keep going and ask questions. If you don’t know what is happening, there is always someone who knows and will help you.”
Sopo Borraez earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Florida Atlantic University and discovered her calling for pharmacy while working as a pharmacy technician. Now, as a second-year student pharmacist at the UF College of Pharmacy Orlando campus, she is involved in multiple student organizations, works on a research project and serves as a student ambassador. And her impact continues at home, as she is now guiding her younger sister through her first year of college, building a legacy of education for her family. “Going through this journey with my family by my side means everything,” Sopo Borraez said. “I’m thankful to be able to share what I learn and help guide anyone who needs it.”