From Fast Food to Pharmacy Tech: Wynona Ylagan’s Journey to Finding Her Purpose at SJVC

Wynona Ylagan enrolled in the Pharmacy Technology program at SJVC because she wanted to create a better future for herself and her family. She quickly became a standout student and role model.

“Looking back on her experience as a high school student, Wynona wasn’t sure if she would be able to complete the program,” says Doaa Saleeb, Pharmacy Technology Instructor at the SJVC campus in Ontario. “To her surprise, not only did she finish the program, but she finished with high grades. Her spark for knowledge grew with every module and ignited her drive to become a lifelong learner. It was a joy to see her so happy, and know she felt like she had finally found her purpose in life.”

Wynona Ylagan graduated from the Pharmacy Technology program in August of 2023. It was a pleasure to hear more about her time in the program and her current position as a head pharmacy technician.

What did you do before enrolling in the program?

I was a manager at a fast-food drive-thru, and I was studying business accounting at a community college. I thought I’d love accounting because I genuinely loved calculations and thought I’d be able to dedicate my time to that major. I didn’t enjoy it. I tried switching my major to business management—but that wasn’t any better. After spending some time figuring that out, I began to search for something different.

What inspired you/made you decide to study Pharmacy Technology?

My parents wanted me to pursue nursing—influenced by my ethnicity, as they believed nursing was the only solution—but I wanted to get away from that stereotype. I knew I didn’t want to be a nurse, but I wanted to be involved in healthcare.

I found out about the Pharmacy Technology program through an ad on TikTok and decided to tour the campus.

How did you decide that SJVC was the right fit for you?

I only meant to do the tour when I visited the SJVC campus, but the interior of the classroom sold the school for me. I met the instructors, Ms. Lisa and Ms. Doaa, who made me feel like I already was part of the circle—and I came to love them, too.

I enjoyed the program and the way it was taught. The classes weren’t incredibly taxing, and the professors were super helpful. Everything felt second nature to me, as if I’d always done it.

I learned that the field can be extremely competitive. After graduating, finding a secure job felt super daunting. But I didn’t give up looking! I knew that I didn’t want to waste my potential and all the precious time I had put into the program.

What was your favorite part of the program?

I don’t think it’s part of the curriculum, but every week, we have exams on Thursdays, so every Wednesday, either Ms. Lisa or Ms. Doaa made it a habit to play games to review the materials.  Being a competitive person, I enjoyed those very much—and it was a fun and great way to learn and retain the information. I studied so I could compete and wouldn’t disappoint myself, and that knowledge really stuck with me. The competitions were super fun, and the tests were easy because of them.

What did you find the most challenging? 

What I found the most challenging was mathematics. Not so much because it was hard for me, but because I had a head start on the material and understood it, so helping classmates with that could be challenging. But learning how to help my peers made me a better student and helped me grow more confident as a person.

The most challenging thing that happened, though, was very devastating for all of us—we lost one of our classmates. It was a very hard and sad time, and we all saw things much differently afterward.

We are so sorry to hear about your loss and extend sympathy to your classmate’s loved ones.

The Pharmacy Technology program requires an externship as part of hands-on learning. Can you share a little about your experience in externship?

Apart from the challenges I had in the program itself, I found my externship experience to be challenging in other ways. The company I had an externship with was going through an expansion, which threw me for a loop in terms of what to expect as an extern. Externs sometimes stay on to be hired at their externship, but it didn’t end up being a place that was a good fit for me. I learned through the experience, though, and powered through. I was determined to complete the program and do a great job. I knew that my experience and knowledge gained at SJVC—with brilliant professors and supportive classmates—had already also prepared me to find a great job.

After my externship, I worked for three other pharmacies before working at my current job. I wanted to be a solid future reference for those still in the program—that had been important to me when I was looking for employment.

Where are you employed now? What is your role, and what is a typical day like for you?

I am currently working at Citrus Pharmacy. It is a long-term-care (LTC) pharmacy. Because I hadn’t had much experience yet in LTC through school, I learned the ropes on the job. I am currently a head pharmacy tech in the filler department. I work with just one other person and report to my pharmacist. I can make a lot of decisions on my own, which is great.

As far as how my day goes, I have a program for myself. I have about 5-7 tasks that I do, along with extra ones I’m asked to do each day, so a lot of my job is juggling and prioritizing tasks. I also delegate things to my co-worker and find ways to make them more efficient, too.

What I like  most about my job is learning so much on my own and being trusted to use my own best judgement. It helps me improve and grow, making me a more confident, knowledgeable, and valuable employee.

Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for someone who is just starting the Pharmacy Technology program?

Yes. Here are a few things I learned from my own experience:

Not knowing everything is a place to start.

No one will believe in you more than you believe in yourself—and that outlook will help you.

Everyone has their own struggles (including me). Transform that struggle into an opportunity.

It’s easy to pity yourself and give up when you are struggling, but the outcome of persevering and believing in yourself, of not knowing whether you will make it or not, makes it so worthwhile. All your worries and anxieties will disappear as soon as you step into your field.

Pharmacy Technology is just the beginning. We are in a land of opportunity and experiences we can expand.

Not everything is set in stone. Take your time. Do things at your own pace.