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In 2014, during what should have been an otherwise exciting, celebratory time for Tanveer Shah ‘14, PharmD ‘22 — a first-generation college student just months shy of graduating from ������Ƶ with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry — his father passed away.

Despite his personal hardships, Shah fought through an especially difficult senior year in the already challenging chemistry program. This experience taught him about resiliency and the importance of pushing through difficulties and relying on a circle of family, friends and colleagues who pushed him to do his best.

“No matter what brings you down, just keep analyzing where you’re going and keep pushing forward, and realize that there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “All the hard work does pay off eventually.”

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) was a big part of Shah’s support system during his time as an undergraduate, and those relationships continued to affect him when he returned in 2017 in the first cohort of students in ������Ƶ’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program.

Shah said EOP played a big role in getting him admitted to ������Ƶ in the first place, supported his transition into college and kept him on track throughout his time here. As a first-generation student, he didn’t have family members who could advise him on which classes to take or help him prepare for the rigors of college academics. EOP’s Binghamton Enrichment Program during the summer before his first year was especially helpful in enhancing his math, science and English skills and setting him up for a successful start.

“One of the things that helped me throughout the four years there was that EOP provided me with book stipends,” he said, “which actually helped a lot of students with purchasing books and notes so they could excel in classes.”

As he neared the end of his PharmD program, Shah was reminded of the important role EOP had played throughout his undergraduate academic career and decided he wanted to give back to the program in some way. As a young alumnus, his resources were limited, but he realized that he could give of himself and share the lessons he learned along his journey with current students.

“If it wasn’t for EOP, I’ll be honest — I wouldn’t have been at ������Ƶ,” Shah said. “And I just want to pay it forward. If I can’t do anything financially, I can at least speak to individuals who are in a similar situation as me or in a STEM program. I can speak to them, I can possibly mentor them in the right direction.”

Shah reached out to Karima Legette, the director of EOP, and expressed his desire to connect with current students.

“We absolutely put him right to work with our pre-pharmacy students,” said Legette, “and added him to a panel for the STEM Week programming hosted by opportunity programs including EOP and Student Support Services.”

While wrapping up pharmacy school and his rotations this spring, his time was limited, but he hopes to continue to connect with future EOP students and encourage them on their journey to success.

“I can tell them what I went through and the struggles I’ve gone through,” he said, “and also [advise them on] the directions that I wouldn’t take now — like maybe I shouldn’t have waited so long to pursue my graduate degree.”

His desire to connect with others is carrying over into his post-graduate plans of working in a community pharmacy setting, as opposed to a hospital setting, because he enjoys the opportunity to interact directly with patients.

“You can talk to the patient if they have any issues like interactions,” he said. “Or if you want to give them recommendations, then you can actually see them. I prefer that.”