Pharmacist Personal Statement

Choosing pharmacy as a career was a process involving reflection on my life experiences, talents and interests. I have seen firsthand all of the good that I can do with the knowledge of becoming a pharmacist. My mom, being a pharmacist, has been a fundamental influence in my decision to pursue a career in pharmacy. The image of my mom as a pharmacist, however, is not one of her working in a pharmacy. Growing up I watched my mom manage my grandmother’s medications. She would place them in counters, take her to doctor’s appointments and explain the importance and need for the medications. I was always amazed at the knowledge of a pharmacist. She was able to answer questions related to medicines and their use for friends, family members, and
neighbors. I saw pharmacy being practiced in everyday life.
In choosing a career, I also reflected on my natural talents and interests.
In high school, I found myself taking the more challenging courses offered, especially in the areas of math and science. Math and science are a large part of the pharmacy profession. Knowing how the drugs work, what they are used for and how the body uses the drugs interests me. In the area of math, calculations are also responsibilities of a pharmacist. I realized I wanted a career that not only challenges my capabilities academically, but also challenges me to utilize my talents for the good of others. This thought I always had in the back of my mind gradually grew into a passion for pharmacy. Pharmacy would allow me to focus on the sciences and then apply this knowledge to help keep people healthy. A career in which I can apply my years of studying to real everyday life is
appealing.
A strength I see in myself is determination. I like to get things done, solve problems, and challenge myself. I view a pharmacist as determined. Pharmacy is an ever changing profession. I need to be determined to meet the challenge of being able to solve problems, find answers, and work with others. A career in pharmacy allows me to utilize my talents and pursue my interests to enter a rewarding and respected profession.
I have had many wonderful opportunities job shadowing various fields of the profession. These opportunities reinforced my choice as pharmacy as a career. Shadowing in a retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, long-term care pharmacy, consulting pharmacy, and nuclear pharmacy really broadened my view of the practice of pharmacy. While the Pharm D. degree is required for all of these professions, the areas themselves are all very diverse. The Pharm D program would allow me to explore the various areas in more depth. My immediate goal is to use the next four years to get a strong clinical background, that I can utilize in one of these pharmacy disciplines. My long term goal is to be in a pharmacy position where I am able to take all that I have learned and apply it for the good of others.
I have been taught to always make time to give service to others.
Volunteering on various committees that involved working with adults, peers, professionals, and people of different backgrounds has taught me how to work with all kinds of people. Specific areas that I have been involved with included respite care, fundraising, Mayor’s Youth Council., and Ronald McDonald House teen board. In any type of job setting, I know a huge part of my success will be based on how I am able to interact with others. My volunteer experience allowed me to continuously work with a wide range of people including peers, adults, children, business leaders, and city officials. Pharmacists need to be able to work and communicate with a wide variety of people. Many of these committees also worked to provide needed services for others. Pharmacy is a profession which focuses on the needs of
others.
There are many different fields in pharmacy that I can go into; being that, I am very confident that whatever type of work setting I choose, I will be able to work with those around me. My education has always been filled with challenging courses, from ACP and honors courses in high school to the first two years of pre-pharmacy school . I have proven to myself, that I am capable of handling challenging curriculum and I have the determination needed to follow my passion into becoming a pharmacist.