After Finishing Pharmacy School

¶ … Pharmacy School What kind of work do I envision myself doing ten years from now? I have a substantial plan that I intend to follow once I complete my education as a major in pharmaceutical chemistry. That is, I plan to complete the additional education necessary to obtain my license as a pharmacist, and ten years from now I plan to be serving a vital role as a highly qualified, competent and compassionate pharmacist in a hospital in California.

Frankly this is not a new idea for me at all because since I was a young person I have given serious thought to the important role that a pharmacist plays in the healthcare field. My own family has illnesses that require prescriptions of specific medicines to keep them alive. My parents struggle with cardiovascular disease and with diabetes, and for many years I have seen how they are being kept reasonably healthy and alert because of the modern miracle of key medications.

I have always been fascinated with the fact that these tiny pills pack so much power when it comes to keeping people alive and well.

I have often wondered, what would happen if the pharmacist that dispenses medicines for my parents made a mistake and issued the wrong medication to my father or mother? Would my father or my mother make it okay without the correct prescription? This thought has frightening ramifications, and while I don't expect that this could -- or will -- happen, human error can make life more complicated and more dangerous. My own goal is to become the most efficient, effective, knowledgeable and trustworthy pharmacist that I could possibly be.

Education is vital to me, and reflecting on how consistent I am when it comes to completing class work and research properly and on time, I can honestly say my goals are achievable. Moreover, because there are many Asian people living in California, I believe my knowledge of three languages will be beneficial to me and to the patients who come to me to have their prescriptions filled. I am fluent in Chinese, Taiwanese, and in English.

These languages will be useful when patients come for their medications, because of course the pharmacist is obliged to explain the proper way that customers are supposed to take their medications. A pharmacist is also responsible for giving customers / patients updated and accurate advice on health issues, and when necessary a pharmacist will refer a customer to services that may be useful, including health insurance that covers the cost of expensive medications.

Pharmacists are required to understand the composition of drugs, their chemical and their physical properties, and highly professional and informed pharmacists -- as I intend to become -- will also understand how the drug that is being prescribed actually works in the human body. My strong desire is to be able to help patients understand the drugs they are taking, and in that same context, it will bring great joy to me when I can see that the medications I am providing to.