Resilience Carries Student Through COVID-19

Mohammed Alabdulal PharmD ‘23 began his academic journey toward a pharmacy degree in August 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With classes online, he was able to remain with his family in Saudi Arabia while staying in school. But it hasn’t been easy:

“I currently live with my grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, and my four siblings. I have faced many challenges this semester, such as learning how to navigate the online learning system and attending school at night due to the time difference. However, the greatest struggle I have overcome is COVID-19. My family, including myself, was infected in August. I had to become a caretaker for my family during the day, while struggling with my own health. I continued to attend classes at night, although the university did provide accommodations. My grandfather was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, my whole family was incredibly worried about his health. After about a week of lying in bed, fluids, and medication, we all ended up getting better. I have now successfully completed my first year of pharmacy school, and I am stronger than ever.”