My long history with the art of pharmacy admission essay

Pharmacy, to me, is the application of medications in varying combinations in order to make people’s lives longer and more comfortable. I have long been interested in drugs and their interactions. As a child, I remember my younger brother being allergic to crustaceans, which resulted in severe physical symptoms, turning him from the fun-loving brother I knew to a crying, itching mess. I was often asked to go to the drugstore to purchase anti-allergy drugs to bring him relief. It always amazed me how the medicine seemed to work like magic, and this aroused my curiosity. I wanted to know what made my brother’s allergic reaction go away, so that he could be the fun-loving kid I loved. What’s more, I wanted to see how these kinds of drugs could help others with their ailments.
My real interest in pharmacy came when my father contracted stomach cancer. For his chemotherapy, he had to use Xeloda, which had side effects that ravaged his body during the treatments. His muscles were sore, and his nose bled, leaving him in agony. I was so saddened seeing my father like this; this was a strong man who was taken down brutally by not just the cancer, but the drugs used to treat it. I really hated Xeloda, but we had no choice because the doctor recommended it as the most efficient drug for my dad’s cancer. I thought there should be a better way to treat someone without making them go through so much pain. This inspired me to take biology when I got to college.
At community college, I struggled because my father‘ s stomach cancer got worse and he needed surgery. I was very concerned about him, but this left little time to my studies. His incapacitation left me to work hard and support our family, working at my father’s tire shop every day. I knew the problem was the Xeloda wreaking havoc on my father, making him and the rest of our family miserable. The chemistry and pharmacology of the drug itself became my interest. Thankfully, my father’s condition improved, and I could work on improving my grades. He was able to come back to work, leaving me with more time to study, though I still continued to help out at the shop.
I want to join pharmacy school because of the interest I cultivated in childhood. As an adult, my interest changed into passion; I am intrigued by drug discovery and design. Since January 2011, I have been working as a lab technician for a company which manufactures a variety of dietary supplements. This position requires me to test for chemicals in said supplements. Working as a lab technician has enabled me to understand the various components of the dietary supplements and their various interactions. This job has affirmed my passion for pharmacy, and ignited a desire to join pharmacy school so that I can learn more and make a contribution to the great science of pharmacy. It is my aspiration to be part of a team in developing a new drug as a Doctor of Pharmacy. With the development of safer drugs, I could prevent someone else from enduring the agony my father saw during his chemotherapy by furthering my education and gaining an understanding of pharmacology and drug creation.
This passion to help others does not limit itself to pharmacy work; I also learned other skills which can be very useful for someone entering a medical profession. I am part of a volunteer organization called HGME in Northridge which provides support for children with autism. Each volunteer has to complete the requirements of the SGPV Chapter of the American Red Cross for adult, child, and infant CPR. Working with autistic children has taught me the value of patience and selfless dedication; one cannot expect great short term changes in autistic children. These values will be priceless as I pursue a career in pharmacy, because patience and dedication are necessary in the grueling process of drug design. They also help me express my desire to be of service, something which I feel the pharmacy industry can provide.
In conclusion, I believe a career in pharmacy will be a natural progression in my life. Since my childhood, my interest in pharmacy has been fuelled by my desire to help people get better, my family’s struggles with illness, and my curiosity about chemistry. My job as a lab technician cemented my desire to become a pharmaceutical scientist, and create better drugs that have lesser side effects. I am eager to study hard and make significant contributions to the pharmacology field.