When my parents and I moved to the United State from India in 2007 I was thrilled to see our new country and experience a new environment, but little did I know the struggles I would have to face. The first few months were intimidating as I learned to speak and write in English, especially given that my parents were not competent in the language themselves and unaware of how to make our transition to America ways more smooth. My parents had to invest the majority of their time and energy in finding jobs and learning English in order to support themselves, my brother, and me, but finding stable jobs was not easy. As we had to move from one place to another for their jobs, my brother and I had to shift to different schools, which was hard on us all.
Although there were bounteous benefits to being in America, the changes in my life were difficult, but I maintained my deepest personal morals and ethics, altruism and benevolence. The financial struggle our family went through was arduous, but despite it all, my parents never failed to provide for us and instilled in us the value and importance of goodwill. My parents worked from morning to night and seven days a week just to provide the necessities, so to help my parents I worked part-time while attending school full-time. Because I was working and yet still had to attend to my academies, I learned to manage my time so that I could accomplish my assignments, complete extra credit work, attend to my extra-curricular activities, and volunteer at the hospital and shadow doctors.
Then, I was given the tragic news that my grandmother had a stroke and the doctors did not think she would recover. We were told she had only seventy-two hours to live and that she was in an irrecoverable coma. My grandmother’s doctors did everything they could but it was a devastating time for my mother and her brothers. Those seventy-two hours were awful for me, so I could only imagine how difficult it was for other members of my family; I did not know the whole story, but I knew how bad it must be as I scanned the room to see every member of my family in tears.
I wiped my mother’s tears and assured her that my grandmother would wake up, that everything would be fine, and to the shock of the doctors, my grandmother did wake up, but she had hemiparesis. Her entire right side was paralyzed but I stayed by her side, diligent in helping her relearn how to walk – with her cane – and how to activate the rest of her muscles. Today she can walk half mile with her cane and those months of helping her taught me the patience it takes to achieve a goal as well as and opening the door to my desire to volunteer my services at hospitals and my interest in medicine.
It has been through her determination and the pharmaceuticals prescribed to her that my grandmother is now able to live a healthy life, despite her conditions. My grandmother takes Epliex Chrono 500 to prevent seizures and her migraine headaches, as well as Clopitorva to lower her risk of future strokes and heart attacks. My grandfather has hypertension and therefore is prescribed Microzide to prevent stroke. Through these pharmaceutical prescriptions my grandparents are not only living healthy life but are able to live a happy life.
Through volunteering at the hospital I have learned how to effectively interact with others – helping patients and listening to their life stories. One day, for example, while waiting for a ride after my volunteer shift, the lady next to me began weeping, crying her eyes out due to an unexpected crisis in her life, and me being there, willing to simply listen to her story, let her know that someone else understood the depth of her feelings made her feel better. This one interaction had an effect on me as well because it caused me to redirected myself towards improving my own self-worth, towards meeting new people, and towards helping others get through tough times and therefore boost their sense of confidence and self-worth.
Ever since I was little I have always wanted to go in medical field because watching doctors attend to my various family members in their times of need inspired me to become a better person and one who wanted to also help those in need. While shadowing doctors and volunteering in hospitals throughout my high school and college career, I was thrilled to be there but did not relished the idea of physical examination of patients. I enjoyed interacting with people though, so I was still not quite sure what was lacking. It was not until I had almost finished college with a degree in chemistry, that it dawned on me that the missing element was that I was destined to work in the field of Pharmacy. I could help people, I could interact with them on a personal level, and I could do all of it through a career path in Pharmacy.
Pursuing my career path in pharmacy led me to getting a job at a Pharmacy and that position has inspired my desire to earn my doctorate in Pharmacy; to be there for my customers, my patients, and to be the trusted link between doctor and patient. In my job I have gained confidence in many areas including communication, organization, and problem solving as I am responsible for paying attention to the details of my job. Offering my unwavering assistance in maintaining and improving the health of my customers, has also given me the opportunity to learn how to provide positive interpersonal and professional skills to people in need. Furthermore, I have also learned that patients trust their pharmacists, and I have learned the names of my patients, therefore furthering the sense of caring they received.
I finally now know that my passion is in Pharmacy and that it is the perfect career for me. Becoming a Pharmacist to help people when they are sick, and clarify their understanding of their medication, and help them improve their lives is where my passion lies. While working as pharmacy technician I saw how instructions and information offered by Pharmacists about each medication was valued and trusted by the patients and I want to be the one that is there for them. Through my experiences as a pharmacy technician I have learned that Pharmacists not only inspire confidence in patients but are also compassionate and use their knowledge about medication to help. Pursuing my career as a Doctor of Pharmacy will not only help me gain clarification and knowledge so that I can help my community, but applying my knowledge and proficiencies will also give me the ability make my patients’ lives better.
