ㅤ ㅤYusri Kardo’s Blog
Hi everyone,
I’m Yusri Kardo, a Pharmacist (BPharm Hons, GCertPP) based in Australia. I completed my internship in 2021 through the University of South Australia's Graduate Certificate of Pharmacy Intern Training Program. Throughout this journey, I’ve documented my experiences, growth, and interests, which I’m excited to share with you on this platform. In addition to my work as a pharmacist, I’m also a creative who delves into music, photography, and blogging. This blend of science and creativity allows me to explore and express myself in diverse ways, and I look forward to sharing these passions with you.
My Pharmacy Experience Includes:
- Community Pharmacy: Engaging with patients and providing vital healthcare services.
- Hospital Pharmacy: Ensuring the safe and effective use of medications in clinical settings.
- AHPRA Examiner: Examiners are required to assess individual candidate's competence to practice against the assessment process set by Ahpra and the Board and make an independent assessment of candidate's readiness to practice safely.
For a detailed overview of my professional journey, feel free to check out my LinkedIn profile.
The Blog
This blog is a space for learning, inspiration, and connection. Here, you’ll find high-quality content covering a range of topics:
- Pharmacy & Healthcare: Professional insights and practical advice.
- Financial Education: General tips for building financial literacy (note: not professional financial advice).
- Education & Personal Development: Strategies for lifelong learning and growth.
- Career Advice: Guidance to navigate your professional journey.
- Entrepreneurship & Side Hustles: Exploring creative and business ventures.
- Music, Reviews, and More: Sharing what inspires and excites me.
Make sure to subscribe to my blog and socials to stay updated with new posts and content.
Focus areas:
Current Projects and Initiatives
I am actively involved in a range of projects aimed at providing valuable insights, fostering creativity, and driving personal and professional growth. Here’s an overview of what I’m working on:
- Blog
- Regularly publishing articles focused on topics such as pharmacy, healthcare, personal development, and entrepreneurship.
- Designed to deliver actionable insights and thought-provoking content.
- YouTube Channel
- Creating high-quality videos that explore diverse topics, including education, career advice, and financial literacy.
- Accessible and engaging content for a broad audience—check it out!
- The BLUE Print Podcast
- Hosting conversations on growth, creativity, and success.
- Featuring insights from special guests sharing their expertise and experiences—listen now!
- Newsletter
- Offering thoughtful reflections on books, music, articles, and innovative ideas.
- Delivered directly to your inbox for easy access—subscribe today!
- Kardo Studios
- A creative platform dedicated to photography and videography.
- Highlighting unique perspectives and stories through visual art.
- Dribbble Portfolio
- Showcasing a range of creative projects, including graphic design, web development, and visual content creation.
- Explore my portfolio to see my latest work.
- Courses
- Developing educational resources to support learning in productivity, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
- Tailored to empower and inspire individuals to achieve their goals.
- Reviews
- Summarizing impactful books, movies, and music to distill key takeaways and share valuable insights.
- Providing a curated guide to content that inspires and informs.
- Personal Brand Development
- Currently working on creating a personal brand offering meaningful products and services.
- Stay tuned for updates as these projects evolve.
Each of these projects is designed with the goal of adding value to your personal and professional journey. I look forward to connecting and sharing ideas with you as we grow together.
Connect with Me
Stay connected and keep up with updates by following me on these platforms:
- Instagram: @yusrikardo
- I occasionally respond to direct messages, so feel free to reach out.
- Twitter: @yusrikardo
- Send a tweet or a short message, and I’ll do my best to reply promptly.
- Snapchat: @yuzr1
- Drop me a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
For any specific inquiries, you can also contact me directly by filling out the form below. I look forward to hearing from you and staying connected!
Join Me on My Journey
This section is a reflection on my life journey so far. Each of us has a unique path filled with highs and lows, and this is my way of documenting and reflecting on the experiences that have shaped me as I work to turn my aspirations into reality.
Through this timeline, I aim to share insights from my personal and professional growth, offering a perspective that I hope will inspire and motivate you to pursue your own dreams. After all, we each have one life to make a meaningful, positive difference in the world.
I invite you to follow along as I continue my journey, and I hope that it encourages and inspires you in your own path. Together, let’s stay connected and support one another as we progress toward our goals and aspirations.
Let’s grow, learn, and create meaningful stories together!
-
THE START OF THE JOURNEYAs my mother shared with me, I was born right in front of my grandmother’s house, marking the beginning of my life’s journey. This place is the origin of my existence on this planet—the very first breath I took. It’s here where my story started, and one day, I hope to return to this home and contribute to making it a better place for those who live there. By understanding where I come from, I ensure that I remain grounded and true to myself. This knowledge of my roots gives me purpose and motivation, knowing that the challenges I face will never compare to the hardships many people in this country endure. I am deeply blessed to have a family that made the sacrifice to bring me to a place where I can create opportunities for myself. With this gift, I promise to continuously strive to become the best version of myself, so that I may give back and help those who don’t have the same chance.
-
ARRIVING IN AUSTRALIAThrough the humanitarian visa, my father was able to bring our family to a place of greater opportunity. This journey was one of great sacrifice—he left behind everything he had worked for and bid farewell to his extended family in order to take my mother, my sister, and me to Lebanon. We lived there for several years, and it was during this time that my brother was born. I have vivid memories of those years in Lebanon, especially of the trouble I caused as a restless child—a part of my childhood my mother often reminds me of. Those years are etched in my mind, and I carry those experiences with me as part of my foundation. Eventually, we made our way to Australia, settling in Adelaide, where we began to build a new life. Over the years, Adelaide has become a city I know intimately. From childhood to adolescence, and now as an adult, I feel as though I’ve been to every corner of this city—though I admit, perhaps not every corner. This journey has shaped who I am today, and I continue to honor the sacrifices made by my family as I move forward in my life.
-
PRIMARY SCHOOLThe memories I have of primary school are some of my fondest. I enjoyed this time in my life not only because of the friends I made but also because of the teachers who helped shape me as a young boy. In primary school, I met people from various cultural backgrounds, which I believe laid the foundation for my ability to connect with and understand others from all walks of life. This early exposure to diversity instilled in me a mindset of acceptance, where differences are embraced without judgment or prejudice. One teacher, in particular, taught me the importance of self-belief—lessons that I carry with me to this day. These are the kinds of teachers we need in society—those who understand that the simple words they speak to students can have a profound impact on their development. The encouragement to believe in myself has been pivotal in my life, helping me push beyond the limitations I once believed existed, both those set by myself and by others. While I could share more about the mischief and adventures I found myself in during those primary school years, the true essence of that time for me lies in the experiences and the fundamental beliefs that were instilled in me from an early age—not just what I learned in the classroom, but the deeper lessons of self-worth, respect, and the value of others. These formative years shaped who I am today and continue to guide me as I grow.
-
THE RETURNDuring my primary school years, I had the opportunity to return to my home country, a place that felt like an alternate universe compared to what I had known in Australia. The environment was far from what you might expect in more developed nations—it lacked the latest technology, modern infrastructure, and a highly developed educational system. Yet, in this contrast, I found something that I could never experience in Australia. In the vast terrains of Africa, I discovered a sense of freedom and connection with my true self. What do I mean by freedom? It was the ability to walk for hours without the constraints of time, to speak to anyone and be greeted with kindness, to live without the constant competition or judgment based on wealth, and to be accepted simply as another human being. By finding my soul, I found a deep inner peace—an authentic oneness with the land around me, a serenity that erased the noise and hustle of city life. All my worries seemed to vanish as I became fully present in the moment, absorbing the beauty and simplicity of my surroundings. This return to my roots also allowed me to reconnect with my extended family, including my grandmother and my late grandfather, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. This experience, as a young boy, grounded me and helped me understand who I truly was. It also fueled a deep sense of gratitude for my life in Australia and the opportunities I had there. Ultimately, this journey heightened my awareness of life and contributed greatly to my growth. It became a pivotal point in my maturation, enriching my development as I transitioned into young adulthood, and shaping the person I would become.
-
HIGH SCHOOLMy high school years were shaped by a unique experience, as I attended an all-boys private school, which provided a different dynamic than a co-ed environment. There was a constant presence of ego, masculinity, banter, and the natural behavior of boys being boys. The atmosphere was filled with interesting events and the challenge of fitting into various social groups, all while avoiding becoming the target of jokes. In the end, my friends and I formed our own social circle, a diverse group of guys from different cultures around the world. Despite our differences, we shared a deep understanding of each other, and even made jokes about our backgrounds—but always in a lighthearted and respectful way. This experience was special because, within our group, we were able to talk openly about our thoughts, emotions, and life experiences, creating a bond that I don’t believe I will ever experience again in the same way. Looking back, high school was a great time for personal growth. It offered a unique space to learn and focus on self-development, without the pressures of adulthood. However, one key element I feel was missing was a structured discussion on life goals and purpose. I believe that introducing this type of conversation into the high school curriculum would provide students with valuable guidance before they make the critical decision of choosing a career path. Additionally, I feel that financial education should be incorporated into high school education. As students transition into adulthood, managing finances becomes an essential aspect of life, and early exposure to this subject could better prepare them for the responsibilities that lie ahead. In summary, while high school was a time to develop lasting friendships and learn academic subjects, I also believe it could have been a more holistic experience if it included more emphasis on life’s bigger questions and financial literacy. These aspects would have better equipped me, and my peers, for the challenges and decisions of adult life.
-
UNIVERSITYDuring my early years at university, I struggled to find balance. Juggling academic responsibilities, family commitments, friendships, work, and the process of discovering myself proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated. These years were often marked by periods of stress, with an overwhelming workload that, looking back, I’m not entirely sure how I managed to handle. However, as I progressed into my final years of university, things began to shift. I learned how to manage my time more effectively and became more focused on my goals. With greater clarity about what I wanted to achieve, I was able to structure my study routine better and find a balance between all the aspects of my life. In particular, my final years were my best. My grades improved as I honed my time management skills, and my goals became more realistic and defined. This sense of direction and purpose helped me push through the challenges and stay motivated. Looking back, those last couple of years were pivotal in shaping my growth, both as a student and as an individual, preparing me for the future ahead.
-
INTERNSHIPDuring my intern year as a pharmacist, I had the privilege of working with a preceptor whose values closely aligned with my own. This individual became a source of inspiration, someone I will look up to for many years to come. Throughout my internship, I learned not only about pharmacy but also about life. The lessons I gained were not found in textbooks—they were the kind of lessons that you only discover through real-world experiences. Life, as I have come to understand, is a complicated and often unpredictable journey. You never quite know what challenges will arise, and it can be difficult to navigate through them. One phrase that has helped me through this uncertain path, both during my internship and throughout my life, is: “Control what you can control, and leave the rest to God.” This simple yet powerful phrase has been my anchor during difficult times. It has reminded me that, while we cannot always control what happens, we can control our reactions and decisions. Life’s struggles will always come, but how we choose to handle them shapes our growth. There have been moments where life has broken me, but those very moments have also defined who I am. I’ve come to appreciate not only the successes and joys but also the adversity, because it all contributes to my personal development. In the end, it’s not about avoiding challenges but about how we respond to them. And with each trial, I continue to grow and move forward, equipped with the wisdom of past experiences.
-
KNOWLEDGE & GROWTHI made a conscious decision to dedicate myself to self-growth and continuous learning. My goal is to improve several areas of my life, not just for my own benefit, but so that I can support and uplift others in their journeys as well. The analogy I like to use is that of a cup being filled and overflowing. By investing in my own growth, I am able to pour into others without depleting myself, creating a positive ripple effect. Through self-growth and the pursuit of knowledge, I am not only bettering my own life but also positively impacting those around me. I believe that by becoming the best version of myself, I can help those in my circle rise to their potential too. This leads me to a very important point: the people we surround ourselves with play a significant role in shaping our lives. It’s essential to be selective about the friends we choose. They influence our decisions, offer advice, and help shape our identity. A strong, positive support system can propel us forward, while negative influences can hinder our growth. Similarly, while we cannot change our family, we can choose how we allow their influence to affect us. If negativity is projected onto us, it’s important to be aware of it and consciously choose not to let it disturb our mood, thoughts, or overall trajectory in life. By surrounding ourselves with individuals who encourage growth, positivity, and resilience, we create an environment that fosters success and fulfillment. This is a key part of the journey toward self-improvement and helping others along the way.
-
ENTREPRENUERSHIPAt a pivotal point in my life, I realized that I needed to become an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship fascinates me because it offers the opportunity to bring ideas to life—ideas that have the potential to positively impact and improve the lives of others. I am driven by the desire to create, innovate, and solve problems in a way that not only benefits me but also helps those around me. Entrepreneurship allows me to exercise my creativity, transform concepts into tangible solutions, and provide value to communities. By pursuing my entrepreneurial endeavors, I aim to build ventures that will make a meaningful difference in the world. The journey ahead will not only involve personal growth but will also empower me to help others, creating a ripple effect of positive change. This is my path to not only fulfill my ambitions but to contribute to a greater purpose.
-
REALISATION & ACTUALISATIONAs I continue to grow, I delve deeper within myself to uncover my true purpose in life and understand how I can fulfill it. I've come to realize that while many aspects of life are beyond my control, I can influence the person I become through the choices I make. I know what I don't want to be, and that clarity helps guide me on a path where I can actively avoid paths that do not align with my values. I aspire to be someone who helps others and contributes positively to society and my family. This realization has sparked a shift in my mindset, prompting me to take on more responsibility, not only as a son and sibling but also in my professional career. By understanding the type of person I want to become, I’ve set a clear direction for my journey. As I approach the end of 2022, I am focused on making decisions that empower me, both internally and externally. I aim to continuously build on my experiences, both personal and professional, so I can evolve into the best version of myself. Each day, I am working to reach my full potential, striving to help others and ensuring that my path is one of growth and positivity. I have no desire to harm others; instead, I wish to leave a positive mark on the world and, most importantly, to become the best version of myself.
-
NEXT STEPS & THE GREAT ESCAPE!This year has been a journey of stepping out of my comfort zone and learning how to navigate life independently. It has been a significant learning experience that has greatly contributed to my personal growth. I take pride in the increased responsibility I’ve taken for my life, consciously steering it toward the direction I desire. As I move toward the end of this year, my focus is on finishing strong—completing the final steps of preparation for the upcoming year, which I have defined as the year of execution, transition, and prosperity. The months ahead are crucial as I invest time and effort into solidifying the foundation for my future. These final steps will ensure I am ready to embark on the next phase of my journey and bring my plans into fruition.
-
EXECUTION, TRANSITION & PROSPERITYThis year is about executing the plans I’ve meticulously prepared, using it as a springboard to propel myself into the next stage of life. I am focused on transitioning smoothly into my future, aligning my actions with the person I aspire to become. It’s not just about reaching the destination but becoming the best version of myself along the way. As I move forward, I will continue to execute with purpose, ensuring each step I take aligns with my long-term vision. The transitions I am making now will shape the path ahead, bringing me closer to fulfilling my goals and becoming the individual I strive to be.