Its odd in that I have explained the answer to this question numerous times at interviews, yet I found it difficult to actually put into words.
How do you adequately describe your life's aspirations while being able to convey the passion behind it?
As you all have gathered, I am a massive pharmacy and chemistry nerd which is evident in some of the decorations I own that the wife does not care for. Actually, I can somewhat understand since I am an uber nerd, but I digress.
That aside, there is something about pharmacy that is innately fascinating. No other medical profession do you have such a direct impact on a patient's life.
Doctors, in some ways, are showered with all of the glory. I will not argue that some of it is deserved, but pharmacists are always over looked. Often,when explaining my choice of pharmacy over medicine, I explain that doctors often save the lives of the patients. Pharmacists are here to make their quality of life better.
I like interacting with people, its what fuels my day. The fact that I could use my knowledge of chemistry and the processes of the human body to increase the joy a person has during a day is immensely rewarding to me. Pharmacists can offer so much to their patients and rarely is this fully realized.
Even more so is the fact that pharmacy is still evolving. Really, who knows what pharmacists will be doing 10-20 years from now? Those who graduated twenty years ago, could you imagine MTMs, vaccination clinics, prescribing abilities (in some states), etc etc? It's almost exciting in a way.
Most of all its where I feel at home. Yes, I flirted with medicine for a while and its probably something I could have done well. It was, however, not something that I felt fit with me.
My whole goal in life is to give back in some way. I want to be able to look back on my life and see that I had a profound impact to not just my patients, but the world in general. Maybe I'm overly ambitious and insightful due to my youth, but I want to change the profession. I will not be one to sit idly by as the profession storms by.
And I feel that pharmacy, specifically retail pharmacy, is where I can most efficiently give back.
Sappy and overzealous? Perhaps, but its what I want to do with my life.
I was once told that in the grand scheme of things the only thing that matters is if at the end of your life you can look back and ask the question 'Was I a good person' and answer yes. The path you may take may have many twists and turns, but ultimately you wind up at that answer.
My path is taking me through the field of pharmacy... and damnit, I cannot wait to start.
9 comments:
That is awesome.
Health care needs people like you, regardless of what branch you enter.
We all have to work, so might as well do something you like.
I certainly agree with you, unfortunately not all people see the positive aspects of your description. Specifically those who think that retail pharmacists *still* just count pills and label things. And as the post on what people say when you're applying to pharmacy school, don't listen to them, they're full of it. Especially if they've already done it - even more so if they were accepted to pharmacy school more than 3 years ago. Just my take :) and I'm still rooting for you!
Megan
I am rooting for you! I hope you hear good news soon.
Keep up the nerding!
It seems we have a few things in common with regards to our view of the profession of pharmacy and our respective places in it. I too felt very similar to you when I made my decision to go into pharmacy. And I can honestly say I've never looked back and regretted it once. I hope you'll be able to say the same and I think you will when it is all said and done.
I love your writing, I am in awe with the industry myself. I am just mustering up the courrage to make it through a PharmD program by 2012. I am a business major currenly and just dont get excited about work anymore. I love what I do, just can see babysitting adults and only get paid 40-60k for it. I need something I get more enjoyment out of! the thought of working with medication just gets me excited. You now have a new reader. Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts! Angie
to be a pharmacist I was like
HAHAHAHAHA
I never thought that world can be this weird iam a senior pharmacist in one of the most difficult pharmacy collage in my country but never loved chemistry
my dream was to study physic weird right out of 7000 student that fights for the place am setting on it world can be unfair for so many people 90 people was excepted including me now I got it when I don't like it the collage told me to chose something between beeing dentist or doctor or a pharmacist and here to be a pharmacist u have to study 6 years but better than medicine 7 years of studying something u don't like is torture believe me after am done with my study of pharmacy I will come to us seeking a good physic school in any way iam prying for u to be a good pharmacist . to study something u love its one of greatsist blissing
"Improving quality of lives rather than saving lives"....Its so true just insuring people are happy with their meds and adherent has such an impact on QoL.
all the above ppl are deluded. pharmacy all about profit margins and mark-up, getting the best price for cheap drugs. you forget all the chemistry pharmacology one year after college then you become a salesperson. It was the biggest mistake of my life becoming a pharmacist, I hate every minute of it.
I work at a pharmacy and I wish I could feel what you feel about this profession because honestly, working in retail has killed my soul a bit. My enthusiasm has waned.
I thought i'd be helping people but instead it seems they don't want to be helped and prefer to complain. This entitled mentality I keep seeing has got to stop. It's always our fault and never the insurance company's fault when something goes wrong.
I'm hoping that when I get an internship at a hospital things will be better.
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