My Journey into the Pharmacy Profession

I believe that life is a journey of constant self-improvement.  I believe that for this journey to be successful, one must approach it with empathy, joy, and hard work.  These values have defined and guided my journey to this point and will continue to guide me as I pursue my next goal of a doctoral degree at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, School of Pharmacy.

Many factors have shaped the journey of my life, including my diverse background, my dedication to my studies, and my passion for helping others.  As a child in my homeland of Romania, I learned these values from three very important people in my life.  First, my mother is a biology teacher and introduced me to a love of science at a very early age.  Some of my fondest summer memories include attending the camps she organized for her classes.  Her enthusiasm for nature and the diversity of living things infused my life and set the foundation for my education in science.  

Another teacher in my life also played an important role as a mentor.  My elementary school teacher inspired me to excel in my academic studies.  She taught me the values of organization and self-discipline.  I was determined to make her proud of me so I studied very hard and persevered even when the assignments seemed overwhelming.  She continued to encourage me and because of her efforts, I was able to enroll in a select high school where I could continue my academic success.

My third childhood mentor was my grandmother.  Grandma had lived through the harsh era of communism in Romania and her determination and resilience kept our family healthy and whole.  Grandma taught me the value of hard work and encouraged me to cherish life.  She taught me resourcefulness as we made soap and bread. She taught me the importance of details as sat together and worked on our embroidery.  Grandma taught me the need for compassion and respect through our membership in church.  These are lessons that have continued to serve me throughout my life.  

My parents were very encouraging when I told them I wanted to move to America for my college education, however, I knew I would be financially responsible.  Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked several different jobs but my job at the Sundara Spa Cancer Retreat Program had a tremendous impact on me.  My volunteer work with the people in the Cancer Retreat Program helped me to discover my passion for helping those in need and this is where I decided to dedicate my life to helping others.   

Another benefit of working through my undergraduate years is the experience I gained in leadership and managing of others.  While working at the Moosejaw Restaurant, I earned the title of supervisor and took on the responsibility of ensuring a quality customer service experience for our clientele.  Through this leadership role, I learned the value of teamwork and motivation and these skills will continue to help me through my studies in the doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin.  I also support my studies with reading leadership books like Jim Collin’s Good to Great and Gary Marx’s Future Focused Leadership.  With this focus, I hope to not only be a student in your program but a leader in the field of pharmaceutical studies.

In addition to my hard work to support my studies financially, I had several opportunities to be involved in campus activities that helped to further my scientific interests.  First, I was selected for a chemistry honors project that researched ideas related to sustainable energy and our group presented our findings to the school.  In addition to the honors program, I also participated in the Chemistry Demo Show.  As a proud member of the Green Stem Club, I am a part of recycling initiatives on campus which shows my continued devotion to the community.  Our electronics recycling events each semester are a huge success and I always enjoy being a part of those events.  I have also taken the initiative to research my chosen profession by job shadowing the lead pharmacist at Walgreens once a week.  In addition, I have volunteered at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo where I shadowed the head pharmacist as well.  

In addition to my work ethic and values, I would bring a diverse multicultural background to your school.  I have traveled extensively through Europe and I have experienced many different cultures and traditions.  Communication is a key factor when providing sound medical advice to a diverse population and I have the advantage of being able to communicate fluently in Spanish, Romanian, Hungarian and English.

I have chosen to devote my life to pharmacy because I believe that pharmacy is a profession that requires deep personal commitment, dedicated study, and the utmost professionalism.  Through my life experiences, campus involvement and personal values, I have prepared myself to excel in my chosen profession.  I know that my diverse background, dedication to my studies and my compassion for others will be a tremendous asset to your program and will enable me to successfully navigate the journey ahead.

Works Cited

Collins, James C. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap-and Others Don't. New York, NY: HarperBusiness, 2001. Print.

Marx, Gary.  Future-focused leadership: preparing schools, students, and communities for tomorrow’s realities. Alexandra, VA:  Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2006. Print.