From the photo lab to the pharmacy, CCRI alumna Roques completes remarkable journey
June 3, 2022
More than a decade after beginning her journey as a Photo Specialist at Walgreens,
first-generation Community College of Rhode Island alumna Michelle Roques is now behind
the pharmacy counter as a Registered Pharmacist (RPh), recently accepting a new position
at Anthony's Pharmacy in Providence where the one-on-one interaction with customers
fuels her passion for healthcare.
The 31-year-old Providence, RI, resident and Class of 2016 graduate earned her associate
degree at CCRI in Business Administration and Management, after which she decided
to pursue a career in pharmacy. She remained at CCRI for the next two years to complete
her prerequisites for pharmacy, then transferred to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences, where she earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2021.
Growing up, Roques dreamt of a career helping others. After graduating Classical High
School in 2008, she enrolled at Lincoln Technical Institute’s Dental Assistant School, but soon realized dentistry wasn’t her passion. Transitioning to customer
service, Roques worked her way up the ladder at Walgreens, landing a position as a
supervisor, which piqued her interest in business management.
Two years after the birth of her first child, she enrolled at CCRI to pursue her Business
degree while continuing to work full time at Walgreens. During that time, a job opening
for a Pharmacy Technician became available; eyeing an opportunity to get back into
healthcare, Roque earned her Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) designation and
began working behind the counter as a Pharmacy Tech. The new position was an eye-opener.
“Becoming a Pharmacy Tech changed everything,” Roques said. “It gave me insight into
how I could do more to help people who needed it. I found my path.”
With help from CCRI’s Impact Initiatives Manager Tanekar Alexander, Roques began the
process of transitioning to an entirely new career. Alexander provided sound advice,
helping Roques discover what her options were for transferring in addition to carving
the quickest path possible toward finishing her prerequisites at CCRI. In 2018, Roques
officially transferred to MCPHS, beginning the next step in the journey to her dream
job.
“Tanekar was such a valuable resource for me throughout this process,” Roques said.
“No matter what I needed help with, she was always there for me.”
The path to her doctorate degree wasn’t always easy, but with support from friends,
family, and her advisors at CCRI, Roques remained positive and never settled for less
than what she knew she deserved, a message she hopes her three children take with
them when they as they continue along their own educational paths.
“I never stopped,” said Roques, who has an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, and a 15-year-old
stepson at home. “There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I always had the end
goal in mind. You can’t quit. You can’t settle.
“You just have to be determined.”
“CCRI provided you with everything you need to take that next step. I had two kids
while I was in school, so being able to take night classes while my mother or husband
took care of them was extremely helpful. Even weekend classes – their flexibility
is incredible.
“The professors at CCRI genuinely want you to succeed,” Roques continued. “They stay
after class to help you if you need it, or their doors are always open during office
hours. And the assistance they provide to first-generation college students like myself
is so beneficial. I would recommend CCRI to anyone. I didn’t need to go anywhere else
to finish my prerequisites. Everything is available to you at CCRI.”
In her new role at Anthony’s, she will have the opportunity to work more directly
with customers, many of whom grew up in or live in the same community she did. More
importantly, she’s a continuous inspiration at home, where she hopes her hard work
and never-say-never attitude motivate her children to achieve greatness.
“If anything, I did this for them,” Roques said. “I want them to look up to their
parents and say, ‘Wow, my mom did it and she did it while we were young. If she can,
so can we.’”
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