Rebels Rising in the Real World: Pharmacist Amanda Green

Amanda Green knew she wanted to become a pharmacist when an Ole Miss Pharmacy student came and spoke with her freshmen class at Belmont High School in Belmont, Mississippi. The 23-year-old is now in her final year of pharmacy school at UMMC in Jackson and will be making the 4,000-mile journey from Oxford to Anchorage, Alaska, to fulfill that dream. She will be starting her job as a pharmacist at Target in June.

Amanda was first intrigued with all of the different jobs that were available in pharmacy. “There was so much more than just someone who would pill count.”

Green has always wanted to go into nuclear pharmacy, and area of pharmacy that deals with the preparation of radioactive materials that will be used to diagnose and treat diseases, like cancer. “Many students who graduate from Ole Miss often chose to go work in a clinical setting where they can work alongside doctors to monitor and adjust patient medication. Green explained, “Who better to monitor a patient’s medications, then the medication expert.”

One of the things that Amanda says is her biggest achievements is her induction into Rho Chi, an academic honor society in pharmacy. “Making it through the pharmacy program, but to also be distinguished academically was probably my biggest achievement.”

Rho Chi is an extremely selective honor society that invites members who distinguish themselves by their academic and professional achievements. Green was inducted in 2013.

During her time in Oxford, Amanda was on the Club Ultimate Frisbee team and spent her sophomore year on the rifle team. Green said, “There was always something to do. When I wasn’t studying, there was something fun to do.”

Amanda said that some of her favorite memories that she has from her time at Ole Miss were spent with fellow Early-Entry students. “I got to know some of my classmates before we ever became official Pharmacy students. Some of the best memories were doing Pharmacy events before we become official pharmacy students.”

“Try and have fun.” That is Amanda’s advice for those who are currently in the program or are thinking about studying pharmacy. “Try not to study all the time. They don’t accept people into the program who can’t make it. If you’ve made it through the first two years, you can definitely make it through the third year.”

“What do I not love about Ole Miss?” Amanda said, looking back over her time in Oxford.

One thing that Amanda said she never got the chance to do in Oxford was to eat at City Grocery. She says she will definitely be back to try it before she leaves for Alaska.

“These past seven years, Ole Miss has meant my future. Now when I look back, Ole Miss will mean my memories,” said Green. “All the happiness I hope to experience in the future, Ole Miss will have a part in that; but it will always be the road that got me to Alaska and got me where I wanted to be.”

Waverly McCarthy is a HottyToddy.com staff reporter and can be reached at wmmccart@go.olemiss.edu.