Growing up in a community where most of my relatives had occupations in the medical field played a tremendous role in my decision to pursue a career in healthcare. My mother is a registered nurse (RN) and periodically going with her to work as a child gave me the chance to get a glimpse of what being an RN entailed. As I got older, I was still a bit uncertain about what career in medicine I wanted to pursue. Like most freshmen starting high school, I went in with an open mind, eager to explore my options as I was in the ‘Health Sciences’ track. Everything changed when I was introduced to the field of pharmacy upon completing an assignment in my Principles of Health Science course during my first year of high school. After I finished the assignment, I concluded that pharmacists do more than just put pills in bottles all day. I instantly fell in love with the idea of being able to educate patients and healthcare professionals about the safe and effective use of medications and health issues, as well as the different areas in pharmacy. Being very accessible to patients, unlike other healthcare professions, was another aspect of pharmacy I admired. Without a doubt, I was certain this was something I wanted to pursue. I was in the Health Science Practicum course my senior year where I was able to get hands-on experience with patients in the clinical and rehabilitation center setting. It also allowed me to apply the knowledge I gained in previous Health Science courses during each rotation. Listening and engaging with patients as they discussed the treatments they received helped me realize I wanted to encounter similar interactions in the pharmacy setting. This program helped solidify my decision to pursue a career in healthcare, specifically in pharmacy.
As a freshman at the University of Houston (UH), I was originally an Exploratory Studies major, allowing me to use my first year to decide my major. With the help of my academic advisor, I discovered kinesiology in my second semester of college and instantly drew interest in what the subject entailed and how multiple courses within that degree plan could help prepare me for pharmacy school. My first few years at UH were not ideal as I experienced a few challenges transitioning to college, which as a result, impacted my grades. I did not use the best time management strategies as my time was not used wisely between working part-time and attending school full time. I decided to alter my approach to college after my sophomore year. That summer, I created efficient ways to succeed academically. The following semester, I went into each class with an optimistic mindset, certain to advance academically. I was also able to create effective ways to balance school, work, and extracurricular activities as well. As a result, I started to see an increase in my grades. I was more engaged in my science classes and I found myself enjoying what I learned. Joining the Pre-Pharmacy Association exposed me to many opportunities and guided me throughout my pre-pharmacy journey as well. My junior year helped me realize there is no deadline to make positive improvements in your life.
My decision to pursue a career in healthcare, specifically in pharmacy, was not solely due to my high school experiences. Understanding various medications and their functions in our body began as a child when my father was diagnosed with type II diabetes and hypertension. Being exposed to his medications allowed me to slowly begin to educate myself about the functions and potential side effects his medications had on his body. My father is fortunate to receive proper treatment, as this may not be the case for others. The interaction between my father and his pharmacist is something I desire to have as a pharmacist.
I aspire to become a pharmacist as I want to be in a position where I can use my knowledge in medicine to counsel and treat many patients with different health issues. Improving the health of patients has always been my dream since childhood. I hope to use my devotedness for helping others, and knowledge of medicine to become a pharmacist to continue to make a difference in many people’s lives.