Published Tuesday, September 26, 2023                

Cleveland Heights, Ohio - Meet Jebria Franklin, a determined 17-year-old student currently attending both Shaker Heights High School and the Cleveland Heights Career Center. Her journey into the world of pharmacy technology began with a desire to explore the medical field, but as she embarked on this path, she discovered the reality was quite different from her initial expectations. 

In a recent conversation, Jebria shared her experiences and insights into her educational journey. "In my junior year, I started learning medical terminology and gained a basic understanding of what it means to be a pharmacy technician," she explained. "But being in the actual pharmacy environment was a unique experience, not in a bad way, just different from what I expected. It involved a lot more customer service than I had anticipated." 

Jebria's interest in pharmacy initially stemmed from her desire to work in the medical field. She considered a career in cosmetology but was drawn to the diverse opportunities in healthcare. "When I applied to the program at Cleveland Heights Career Center, I was initially considering cosmetology because it was something I knew how to do and enjoyed," Jebria said. "However, when I learned about other opportunities like pharmacy and Clinical Health, I decided to explore the pharmacy route to see how it would be."  

To gain a deeper understanding of the field, Jebria participated in the Y.O.U. Internship program during the summer. She worked at a CVS pharmacy in her area. This hands-on experience allowed her to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. "I wanted to see if pharmacy was something I genuinely wanted to pursue because learning in a classroom and physically being in a pharmacy are different experiences," Jebria noted. 

Jebria is grateful for the consideration of her CVS Pharmacy mentor, Matt. He showed her how to do cycle counts to keep up inventory. Matt introduced her to other specialists who stopped by the pharmacy to help with specific tasks. With his help, Jebria felt informed about the role of a retail pharamacist.

The internship took on added significance when Jebria's mother got sick this year. "I felt good knowing that I could recognize signs and help her with her medications," Jebria said. "I can assist her with understanding which medications to take and when. It's been rewarding to support her in this way." 

Jebria's newfound knowledge and skills have not only benefited her ability to support her mother but have also given her a clearer sense of purpose. As she continues her journey in the pharmacy tech program, Jebria is excited about the potential to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field. 

Jebria attributes her dedication and growth to her Cleveland Heights Pharmacy Tech Program Instructor, Anna Kiss. At her young age, Jebria got the approval by the Heights accredited Pharmacy Technician program to get her pharmacy technician license. Jebria shared, “It's a great accomplishment for me, considering this is something not majority 17-year-olds do.” Jebria needed the license to be able to work at CVS.

With each passing day, Jebria Franklin moves closer to her dream of contributing to the medical field. Her journey, while unexpected, serves as a testament to the power of experiential learning and its positive impact on students' lives. Jebria remains open to exploring various aspects of the pharmacy profession. "I still like pharmacy, but I might prefer a different setting than retail," she explained. "I'm considering clinical pharmacy.” We look forward to witnessing her continued growth and success in the field of pharmacy.