During my freshman year in high school, my science teacher assigned us to interview people in the community about how they use science in their careers. Although I don’t remember most of the people I spoke with, I can tell you that I spent meaningful time with a local community pharmacist who changed my life.
What I saw was a man who loved his career and truly cared for his patients. In an instant, I knew that I wanted to become a pharmacist, and I never wavered from that goal throughout high school.
Knowing what you want to be when you grow up at age 14 is unusual, but it is very liberating. I simply had to work backwards to figure out how to achieve my goal of becoming a pharmacist.
After high school, I chose to attend Ohio Northern University (ONU) because it had a unique pharmacy program. Rather than attending college for 2 years and then applying to the pharmacy program, ONU students were admitted to the College of Pharmacy from day one.
Although it was expensive, being in pharmacy school from day one and avoiding the risk of rejection made it worthwhile for me.
In college, I spent a lot of time in the library. Although the classwork was difficult, I did well with one exception: organic chemistry.
I did fail organic chemistry—a notorious “weed out” course—but I successfully retook the class over the summer and graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. Failing a course is a difficult stumbling block, but I stood strong and persevered.
Today, I’m thankful for the wonderful pharmacy profession for so many reasons.
First, I’m thankful that community pharmacists are the health care professionals most accessible to the public. If my local pharmacist wasn’t accessible to me, then I likely would have taken a different career path.
Second, I’m proud of the work we pharmacists do, the diversity of our career options, and the relationships we share with our patients and fellow health care providers.
Pharmacy is a profession that makes a real difference in people’s lives. It certainly has made all the difference in mine.
Health & Body, home, Nurse, Religion | WA, USA | Right | November 14, 2016
(I am an RN that goes around to people’s homes. I get an order to obtain a blood draw from a particularly religious patient who refuses to let me try anywhere except the tiny blood vessels in her hand. As I’m on my second attempt, apparently she thinks I need a little help…)
Patient: *loudly, with eyes closed* “Lord Jesus, help her find that blood! Send the blood to her Jesus; she needs your help! Draw her to that vein, oh Lord, and show your power!”
(This was a few years ago. I have made an appointment with a new GP to give me a contraceptive implant since I keep forgetting to take my pills and I want to be safe. This is my first time at this particular office.)
Doctor: “So I’m just going to numb the area first and then we’ll get the implant in there.”
Me: “Okay.”
(I roll up my sleeve and turn my head away.)
Doctor: “Are you all right?”
Me: “Oh, yeah, I just don’t like watching the needle go in. So I’m gonna look at that wall there.”
Doctor: “All right, then.”
(She then stuck the needle in and lifted the skin of my arm up with the needle as she removed it. When she apologized she attempted to do it again. Both times were quite painful but thankfully the needle didn’t break and the rest of the appointment went fine.)
Doctor: “Again, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened there. Maybe if you didn’t have such tiny arms!”
(Three years later I went to get my implant replaced. This time I got a nurse to do it. She did it completely pain free on the first try. I guess my tiny arms weren’t a problem for the nurse.)
Health & Body, Medical Office, Parents/Guardians, USA | Healthy | October 23, 2017
(My mother and I are out for lunch on my twentieth birthday. I’ve been wanting to get my navel pierced for a while, so when we pass a tattoo and piercing parlor I go in to check it out. It’s very clean and on the up and up, so Mom offers to pay for the piercing right then and there, and we get it done. Around this same time, I have to go in for an MRI on my right knee to see why it’s hurting so much lately. Mom and I are currently attending the same college, so I’m living at home to save money. Mom drives me to the appointment. She brings her homework and spreads it out all over the table and the surrounding seats, as there are a lot of seats and almost no people.)
Doctor: “[My Last Name]?”
Me: *jumping up* “Right here!”
(Mom begins to pack up her schoolwork.)
Me: *quickly* “Oh, no, that’s fine; you don’t need to come back! Just keep working on your project.”
Mom: *laughs* “I keep forgetting you’re an adult now.”
(I go back with the doctor and, all of a sudden, remember that I’m now pierced.)
Me: “Oh. Oh, jeeze.”
Doctor: “What?”
Me: “Well… see, I know the rules about MRIs and metal, but I just realized that I have a fresh piercing that I can’t take out yet… uh… this is going to be a problem, isn’t it?”
Doctor: “Not if we only scan your knee. May I see it?”
(I lift up my shirt to show him my piercing.)
Doctor: “Are you cleaning it?”
Me: “Twice a day with soap, water, and hydrogen peroxide.”
Doctor: *starts going through his desk* “We get a lot of kids with piercings that they don’t take care of and it can get real ugly, you know.”
Me: “Oh, I know. I got my ears done when I was six. And eight.”
(The doctor gives me a handful of individually wrapped sanitary wipes.)
Doctor: “Here, you can use these to keep the area clean.” *pause* “So, does your mother know about the piercing?”
Me: “What? Oh! Yes; yes, she does. She’s the one who got it for me. I only told her to stay because I didn’t want her to have to pack everything up, that’s all.”
(The doctor looks suspicious.)
Me: “Honest!”
(I change into the hospital gown and the procedure goes well. I get a little more lecturing about how to clean a piercing, and to always make sure to go to a reputable place that uses sterile equipment, before the doctor leads me out. When we’re both in the waiting room, I turn to Mom.)
Me: “Hey, Mom, tell the doctor who bought my navel piercing.”
Mom: “Um… I did?”
(The doctor laughed. Then believed me, and sent me home to await the results.)
England, Medical Office, Teenagers, UK, York | Healthy | October 23, 2017
(I have an itchy, raised lump on my leg, surrounded by a rash that is not getting better, so I go to see my doctor. I am 22.)
Doctor: “It looks to me like an allergy. I’ll give you these [Allergy Tablets] and if it is not better in a few days, come back.”
Me: “Don’t those tablets contain cetirizine dihydrochloride? I’m allergic to it.”
Doctor: “Don’t be ridiculous! Cetirizine dihydrochloride STOPS allergies. It’s impossible to be allergic to it!”
Me: “I was diagnosed by the allergy clinic at [Hospital]. It should be on my file? I know it sounds counter intuitive but I was tested for every ingredient in the tablets and that is the only one that came back positive. I can’t take it.”
Doctor: “You CANNOT be allergic to it. That isn’t physically possible.”
Me: “I took a hay fever tablet with cetirizine dihydrochloride in it and had a rash on my face and my neck. I was referred to the allergy clinic and they said that’s what caused it.”
Doctor: “I know you’re just trying to be special, but fine, I’ll look.”
(The doctor looks at my file and finds the letter saying I’m allergic to cetirizine dihydrochloride. He then prints and signs the prescription and gives it to me.)
Doctor: *leans right in to my face* “Just take the tablets and stop making such a fuss! You little girls, you stupid BABIES, and your little made up illnesses. Teenagers! Can’t do anything, the idiots. Get a grip and take the tablets. It is impossible to be allergic to the medication that stops allergies. Grow up and stop wasting my time!”
(I took the prescription as proof and reported what happened to the receptionist, who was very angry at the doctor. The doctor was reported to the GMC (General Medical Council). Another doctor treated my itchy leg without giving me cetirizine dihydrochloride. I was eventually diagnosed with a bee-sting allergy.)
Emergency Services, Health & Body, Medication, Respect Your Elders | | Healthy Right | August 26, 2008
(An elderly lady falls down in her apartment and has a cut on her wrist.)
Coworker: “Ma’am, I am afraid, we have to go to the hospital. You will need stitches for that cut and an X-ray to make sure your wrist isn’t broken.”
Patient: “No, I don’t wanna go. Just give me a shot and it will be okay.”
Coworker: “You mean for the pain?”
Patient: “No, so it will heal!”
Coworker: “Ma’am, I’m afraid we don’t have this kind of medication.”
Patient: “But it worked last time!”
Coworker: “Someone gave you a shot and the wrist healed by itself?”
Patient: “No, my sugar was too high and they gave me a shot and everything was okay!”
Coworker: “I see… Well, I can’t fool you; you know this stuff! Listen, I can give you a shot for the broken wrist, but this counteracts the anti-sugar medicine. So every time your sugar is too high, you can never get a shot again.”
Patient: “Never ever?”
Coworker: “Never ever again…”
Patient: “So why didn’t you just say so in the first place?”
Coworker: “Well, not every patient has such an understanding of medicine as you, so I always try to keep it simple.”
Crazy Requests, Great Stuff, Health & Body, Hospital | | Healthy Right | July 16, 2008
(I witnessed this on the hospital floor where I work. A patient’s daughter comes out of a hospital room and stands in the hallway, staring around looking lost.)
Nurse’s aide: “Can I help you?”
Daughter: “Yeah… can I have a stapler?”
(The nurse’s aide walks about two steps away to get a stapler and then thinks better of this request.)
Nurse’s aide: “Why do you want a stapler?”
Daughter: “My dad’s IV tubing is getting in his way. I thought it would be better if we stapled it to his arm.”
Nurse’s aide: “Um, I think tape would work better for that.”
Daughter: “You guys have tape here?”
Nurse’s aide: “Yeah, I have some here in my pocket.”
(The aide walks into the room to secure the IV tubing before any more of his genius children try to help.)
Daughter: *muttering* “I still think a stapler is a better idea…”
Chicago, Funny Names, Illinois, Office, Party, Spouses & Partners, USA | | Romantic | July 10, 2019
(One of my coworkers got married, and a few weeks later he is still very much in his honeymoon phase. Everyone in the office has heard about when he met her, when they started dating, and when they got engaged through passing comments during casual conversations, but none of us has ever met her. He decides to attend a work party and bring his wife along. The running gag all night long is his overuse of terms of endearment.)
Coworker: “Darling, can you come here?”
Coworker: “Love, come meet my manager!”
Coworker: “Did you find your phone, sweetheart?’
Coworker: “I’m just going to run to the car, babe.”
Coworker: “Honey, have you seen my keys?”
Coworker: “Sweetie, can I borrow your phone?”
Coworker: “I can’t find my wallet, dear.”
Coworker: “Sugar, can you hand me that glass?”
Coworker: “Oh, angel! Come meet [Other Coworker]!”
Coworker: “Hey, lover, what time do you want to head out?”
(Eventually…)
Wife: “[Coworker]! Do you even know my name?!”
(I feel like I have to mention that she said it jokingly. They’ve been married for about seven years now, and he still prefers pet names. I wish them the best!)
Crush, Long Distance, Love/Romance, Pennsylvania, Silly, Text/Chat/Email, USA | | Romantic | July 8, 2019
(I am talking to a guy from the UK. We have a bit of a crush on each other but have never really acted on it due to the distance. One night, we are on Skype talking about how I’m a hopeless romantic and he’s just hopeless at romance.)
Crush: “I don’t know why you say I’m so bad; I always know exactly what to say.”
Me: “You really don’t. Girls like to be complimented and told other nice things.”
Crush: “So, what? I should start spewing Shakespeare or some crap?”
Me: “At this point, it wouldn’t hurt.”
(He proceeds to launch into actual Shakespeare, quoting Hamlet’s letter to Ophelia, all while looking at me with the sweetest look and speaking sweetly. Anyone that knows me would know that this is a pretty good way to woo me.)
Me: “Wow. That was actually beautiful. I didn’t know you could quote Shakespeare.”
Crush: “Aw, yeah, b****es love Shakespeare.”
Me: “Wow, way to ruin the moment.”
Crush: “Wait, we were having a moment? I want a moment!”
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, home, Love/Romance, Minnesota, Parents/Guardians, USA, Young Love | | Romantic | July 7, 2019
(I’ve just met my daughter’s boyfriend for the first time after they’ve been dating for over a year, and he’s just brought us home from lunch with his parents. I’m in the back seat and the kids are saying goodbye, and there’s a fairly intense look between them.)
Boyfriend: *suddenly turning around* “Well, it was nice to finally meet you.”
Me: *taking the hint* “You, too.”
(I get out of the car and go to the door to wait for her.)
Me: *once she’s joined me* “Tell him I don’t mind if you kiss in front of me, but I appreciate the subtlety
Australia, Family & Kids, home, Jerk, Spouses & Partners, Sydney | | Romantic | July 5, 2019
(My husband had seven siblings who each had children long before we married. He would never have anything to do with his nieces and nephews when they were babies, telling me that all babies were ugly. But when our daughter was born, he fell in love, and gushed over how beautiful she was. He constantly takes photos of her. About a week after we brought her home a package of photos that were taken at the hospital arrives by post, and he carries it in for me.)
Husband: “There’s a package for you.”
Me: *opening* “Oh, it’s the photos that were taken of [Daughter] at the hospital.”
Husband: “Show me.” *looks at photos* “That’s not [Daughter].”
Me: “Yes, it is.” *pulls out the invoice for the photos*
Husband: “No, she was never this ugly. What’s that you have in your hand?”
Me: “The invoice for the photos; we need to decide which sizes do we want to keep and pay for them.”
Husband: “No, they can be sent back. That’s not our daughter; she was never that ugly.”
Australia, Family & Kids, home, Jerk, Spouses & Partners, Sydney | | Romantic | July 5, 2019
(My husband had seven siblings who each had children long before we married. He would never have anything to do with his nieces and nephews when they were babies, telling me that all babies were ugly. But when our daughter was born, he fell in love, and gushed over how beautiful she was. He constantly takes photos of her. About a week after we brought her home a package of photos that were taken at the hospital arrives by post, and he carries it in for me.)
Husband: “There’s a package for you.”
Me: *opening* “Oh, it’s the photos that were taken of [Daughter] at the hospital.”
Husband: “Show me.” *looks at photos* “That’s not [Daughter].”
Me: “Yes, it is.” *pulls out the invoice for the photos*
Husband: “No, she was never this ugly. What’s that you have in your hand?”
Me: “The invoice for the photos; we need to decide which sizes do we want to keep and pay for them.”
Husband: “No, they can be sent back. That’s not our daughter; she was never that ugly.”
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, California, home, Movies & TV, USA | | Romantic | July 4, 2019
(I’m sitting In my room, watching a popular TV show that had a third season come out of July 4th. Just as things start falling off walls and flying around in the show, a photo flies of my wall and falls to the floor making a huge noise.)
My Boyfriend: “Will?!”
Me: “If that light starts flickering, I’m sleeping at your place tonight…”
Comeuppance, Coworkers, Extra Stupid, Grocery Store, Harassment, USA | | Romantic | July 2, 2019
(I hand out samples at a grocery store. There is an undercover security officer who always comes by and hits on me, despite the numerous times I’ve told him I am not interested. Today, the store is super busy but nobody seems to want any of my samples. Then, I see him coming.)
Security: “Hey, you. How’s it going?”
Me: *annoyed* “Fine.”
Security: “Oh, don’t be sad. I’m here. You need a hug?” *opens his arms*
Me: “No.”
Security: “How about a smile? Science says you’ll feel better if you smile.”
Me: “No.”
Security: *picking up a sample cup* “That’s okay. You’re still pretty even when you’re mad.”
Me: *silent*
Security: “I haven’t eaten since breakfast. I’m starving! Are these candies or antacids or something? Berry flavored, right?”
Me: *glances at the bottle on the table* “They’re actually—“
Security: “So, lots of customers today?” *takes another sample cup*
Me: “No.”
Security: “Who could walk by you and not want to say hi?”
Me: *shrugs*
Security: “I’d spend all day here if I could.” *takes two more samples*
Me: *silent*
Security: “But I was also thinking about dinner and a movie tonight.” *takes another sample* “What do you think?”
Me: “I think you just ate five fiber tablets on an empty stomach.” *points to the bottle on the table*
(He looked panicked for a minute, then walked away without another word. I heard from one of the store employees that he spent quite a while in the bathroom that day.)
Bowling Alley, Flirting, Friends, Harassment, USA | | Romantic | July 1, 2019
(A large group of us goes bowling one night after church. There are some new people in our group, including one particular guy who has decided to follow me around all night, attempting to enter every conversation I’m in. I’ve been able to avoid being alone with him so far, but when one friend gets up to take her turn, he slides into her seat.)
New Guy: “So, you’re [My Name], right?”
Me: “That’s me.”
New Guy: “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but you’re pretty popular around here.”
Me: “And your name is…?”
New Guy: “Oh, sorry. I’m [New Guy]. It’s my first time. Do you guys always do big group stuff like this?”
Me: “Oh, yeah. It’s more fun that way.”
New Guy: *scoots closer* “So, are you single? Because I’d love to get to know you better…”
Me: “Um…”
(In one of those rare and perfectly-timed moments, one of my guy friends hops over the bench we’re sitting on and plants himself between me and the new guy.)
Guy Friend: “[My Name], what’s up? I feel like I haven’t talked to you all night. How’s life? How’s your bowling score?”
Me: “You know very well that you’re going to kick my butt, as always!”
Guy Friend: “Let it be known that you said it, I didn’t.” *turns to the new guy* “How’s it going, bro? Don’t think we’ve met. I’m [Guy Friend].”
New Guy: “Oh, fine. I get it.” *gets up and walks away*
Me: “Has anyone ever told you that you have insanely good
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Extra Stupid, Health & Body, home, USA | | Romantic | June 23, 2019
(One morning before work, I wake up with bad acid reflux. After a while of trying ice and other home remedies, I ask my boyfriend to run up to the gas station and get me some Tums. He agrees and asks if I need anything else)
Bad Behavior, Bigotry, Dating, Great Stuff, Liars/Scammers, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Restaurant, USA | | Romantic | June 20, 2019
(In college, I go on a blind date with a friend of a friend. I have a bad feeling about it, but I brush it off and tell myself it’s just nerves. The night of the date, he is supposed to arrive at 6:00 pm. By 6:10, I start to wonder if I’ve been stood up. At 6:30, I call him.)
Date: “Hello?”
Me: “Um, hi, this is [My Name].”
Date: “Oh, hey! Look, yeah, I’m on my way. My mom was late getting home so I had to wait for her car.”
Me: “Oh, okay. I’ll meet you out front?”
Date: “Yeah, I’ll be there soon.”
(Another fifteen minutes go by and a minivan pulls up in front of my house. My date flips on the overhead light and beckons me to hop in.)
Date: “All right! Hi! Nice to meet you. Wow, you are gorgeous!”
Date: “So, I was thinking about [Fancy Sushi Restaurant].”
Me: “I love sushi! I’ve never been to [Fancy Sushi Restaurant], though.”
Date: “You’ll love it.”
(We arrive and are seated immediately. The waiter comes by and my date orders a bottle of wine — “the best you’ve got” — and we each order two rolls of sushi, 12 pieces each.)
Me: “So, you’re an art major.”
Date: “I dropped out. I don’t think I need a state-sanctioned education to understand art. You know?”
Me: “Art is subjective, anyway. Something that makes you laugh might scare the pants off someone else.”
Date: *dead stare* “No. Not like that at all.”
Me: “Oh.”
Date: “It’s fine; you don’t have to understand.”
(I get the feeling he’s patronizing me, and as the night goes on, the feeling gets stronger. I try to remain polite, but then this happens.)
Date: “I mean, seriously, a female manager is a joke. A man is going to talk to the customers because they’ll see him as an authority figure.”
Me: “I’ve seen plenty of authoritative female managers.”
Date: *laughs* “They’re not called ‘wo-managers’!”
Me: “Okay. Um, I think it’s time to go home.”
Date: “Aren’t you enjoying your night?”
Me: “I’d like to go home.”
Date: *sigh* “Fine.” *waves for the check*
(The check comes and he picks it up to examine the charges. Then, he puts it down and begins patting down his coat pockets.)
Date: “Oh, man. You’re not going to believe this.”
Me: “What?”
Date: “I don’t have my wallet. I think I left it at home.”
Me: “Are you serious?”
Date: “Yeah! Oh. Sorry.” *slides the check to me*
(I look at it and see that our four rolls of sushi and a bottle of wine are nearly $100! I try not to react but I’m in shock. I put down my card and we wait for the receipt.)
Me: “Wow. This place is fancy, huh?”
Date: “Yeah. The best of everything!”
Me: *tight smile* “Mmhmm.”
(We ride home in awkward silence. On the way, he pulls into a gas station, parks in a spot, and hops out. Confused, I sit there waiting. A few minutes later, he comes back out and pulls a new pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.)
Me: “Um… So… You found your wallet?”
Date: *lighting up* “Huh? Oh! Yeah, I guess so.”
Me: “So, where was it?”
Date: “In my coat pocket! Crazy, huh?”
Me: “Yeah. Crazy.”
(When we got back to my house, he leaned in for a kiss but I declined and jumped out. The next day, he sent me a text saying he didn’t think it would work out between us because I was just too uptight and he didn’t think I could carry on a stimulating conversation with him. What a loss.)
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