If I can take the opportunity to change one person’s mind, I will do so by continuing to be visible, getting out there and helping others. Being treated differently can be frustrating and demotivating, but I raise this to others that look like me – your presence is enough. Being visible is enough.
Rahima Shokoya (Rx2025) has faced many challenges and has overcome racial barriers throughout her life. Originally from Nigeria, she has travelled and lived in a few countries throughout her childhood. Living in different places, she experienced a variety of cultures and lifestyles from The Netherlands to Brunei and Canada.
“I often felt disconnected from the social networks that are established when you settle in one place,” says Shokoya. “Childhood friendships and after-school extracurriculars were started and stopped, and my feelings of isolation were compounded by the fact that outside of my siblings, I was often the only Black person in the room.”
Overcoming racial barriers
After completing her BSc from the University of Calgary she discovered her interest in pharmacy and worked as a pharmacy assistant before applying to Waterloo Pharmacy.
“At the pharmacy a patient would ask me a simple question, such as the location of an over-the-counter medication, and instead of trusting my answer, the patient would go and ask my white co-worker the same question,” says Shokoya.
I imagined that if I was in a higher place of authority, people would trust what I say, she adds.
As a pharmacy assistant and now a pharmacy student, Shokoya still faces obstacles in her role. Even with her white coat, patients continue to avoid eye contact and trust her white co-worker’s words over hers. She has had patients question her competence at giving flu shots, despite having given hundreds.
“It’s concerning because if this is how it is despite my white coat, will anything change once I become an actual pharmacist?”
She knows that there are many factors that can play into stereotypes. “Could it be my gender? Is it my age? Or is there some other reason this is happening?” says Shokoya. “Prejudice can often be very quiet, and I may never know the exact reason why I experience it, but I have learned that the best way through it is to stay focused.”
The challenges she faces as a Black woman will not stop her from becoming the best pharmacist she can be.
“As much as it can seem to be an uphill battle to be the only Black person in a space, you can use it as a chance to show people who you are. If I can take the opportunity to change one person’s mind, I will do so by continuing to be visible, getting out there and helping others,” says Shokoya. “Being treated differently can be frustrating and demotivating, but I raise this to others that look like me – your presence is enough. Being visible is enough. And I hope with that, change will come.”
Navigating educational challenges
Recognizing the bias that exists in education and research has also been a challenge to overcome for Shokoya.
Recently introduced to discussions on how certain medications may or may not work on a Black population, it is more intricate than simply extrapolating research that was done on an African American population. All populations are different, and medications affect them differently.
“The School’s professors have done a good job of acknowledging different prejudices that exist in healthcare,” says Shokoya. “But how will these lessons impact future pharmacy practices? As time goes on and more research is done, I hope these issues will be properly addressed.”
Helping your community is a great way to shift your individualistic way of thinking to a more collective one. If we all helped one another, we could make a better society.
Passion for volunteering
It was through volunteering that Shokoya found the support, friendships and social connections that were missing for her. She began her volunteer journey in highschool and continues to volunteer during pharmacy school.
“Volunteering at OneRoof has been a challenging but fulfilling experience,” she says.
OneRoof is a youth shelter in Kitchener-Waterloo. Compared to her volunteer experience at an adult shelter in Calgary, Shokoya mentions she has seen people her age and younger experiencing homelessness.
“Being able to help people in small ways, a simple gesture that brings a smile on their face, has made me a better person and a better pharmacy student,” she says.
“Helping your community is a great way to shift your individualistic way of thinking to a more collective one. If we all helped one another, we could make a better society.”
Shokoya was acknowledged for her volunteer work and received the 2023 recipient of the Rexall Pharmacy Group Community Involvement Award.