Alumni Spotlight: Hayk C. and Christine S.

Hayk C. and Christine S. both come from families with a background in medicine. In 2015, they each applied to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at 国产主播. Four years later, they graduated and began careers at different pharmacies in their community. Soon thereafter, in November 2021, they tied the knot.

As they settle into married life and their new careers, they recall how their relationship began during their time at WCU.

Christine said that when she met Hayk, he seemed mysterious and she wanted to learn his story. Hayk said he was a 鈥済o getter鈥� by making the first move to get to know Christine during their first week of school.

鈥淒uring orientation, she caught my eye,鈥� Hayk said. 鈥淲e started talking on the side and became friends. As we got to know each other more鈥� we realized we really liked each other and it took off from there.鈥�

Hayk added that their four-year PharmD program helped solidify their relationship. The couple got to know one another during early morning and post-class review sessions.

鈥淲e would meet to study together after school and it slowly became something more,鈥� Christine said. Soon, the pharmacy students were seeing each other nearly every day while working toward their shared goal of becoming pharmacists.

鈥淢ost of the time we saw each other more than our family members,鈥� Hayk said.

A Tight-Knit Community in the PharmD Program

Apart from their own relationship, they were also part of their small WCU class. With a cohort of around 60 students, Hayk said they formed small study groups to test one another, write study notes, and put their learning into practice. Christine called it a 鈥渂ig family.鈥�

鈥淲e were very close. Especially since we were such a small class,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e also had a very close relationship with a lot of our professors, which was nice. We would meet with them and we would go over questions if we had trouble with anything.鈥�

Although their relationship started during orientation, Hayk said the couple largely kept things private to avoid being the center of attention. However, he noted that one of his favorite memories at WCU was when the relationship became public.

鈥淲e kept it under the heat for a good four years and it was close to the end of us graduating that our classmates and professors caught on,鈥� Hayk said. 鈥淭hey were very happy about it. A lot had a feeling but didn鈥檛 say anything. It made us happy that they were supportive of us being together.鈥�

Now as a married couple, Hayk and Christine share that they are proud to be WCU alumni.

鈥淲e are just very grateful we got into the pharmacy program,鈥� Hayk said. 鈥淭he professors helped ease us through the program by always being there for us and helping us out in any way we needed them.鈥�

Christine said she continues to uphold the integrity of the profession following her time at WCU.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e wearing that white coat, you are representing the profession,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou always want to wear it proudly.鈥�

WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.