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.
(This is a small, locally owned coffee shop. A customer comes in with a couple of very energetic children who are excitedly jabbering back and forth to each other in a normal inside voice. The customer, their father and a regular, orders his drinks, pays and goes to wait with them, joining in their silly word game. A minute later another customer comes up to the bar to get their drink.)
Customer: “You need to kick those noisy brats out of here.”
Me: “I’m sorry ma’am, but I can’t kick them out for talking. They’re really not being that loud.”
Customer: “And their father, encouraging his kids to talk in public. Disgraceful. You should ban him for that.”
Me: “Ma’am we don’t ban people for entertaining their kids and we don’t kick kids out for talking in a normal tone of voice.”
Customer: (Yelling at me) “Listen you little b****, I’m the owner’s wife and I’m telling you to ban them right f******* now!”
Me: “I can’t…”
Customer: “Don’t you dare open your f****** mouth to argue with me you b***! I’ll have your a** fired.”
(I flinch at the tirade and find myself unable to respond. At this point the father comes up behind her.)
Father: “[My name], get yourself a drink on me and go on break. I’ll handle this. If your boss says anything just say I’ll explain.”
(He turns to the customer as I nod dumbly and turn to make myself a drink.)
Father: “First of all, you don’t treat other human beings like that. If you had any decency I wouldn’t have to tell you that. Second, my kids are being much better behaved than you are. Third, you weren’t even at the owner’s wedding. I was.”
Customer: (Smugly as if calling a bluff) “If you were at the wedding where were you sitting?”
Father: “I was standing right next to her.”
(The customer keeps smiling smugly for a few seconds before realization hits her like a sledgehammer. Her smile falters then she pales visibly and runs from the store. The owner’s husband covered for me for about 10 minutes while I took a break. When I came back there was a $50 bill in the tip jar. He’d never admit to it, but I suspect he put it in there.)
(I work at a grill. We don’t really have a vegetarian menu so this customer ordered a grilled cheese. A minute after I bring out their food she flags me down.)
Vegetarian: “I hate to be a bother but there’s um, something in my sandwich.” She shows me: a spider is stuck in the cheese. I’m freaking out, sure we’re going to have a bunch of unhappy customers.
The guy from the table next to hers tries to lean over and see it. He asks “What’s in it?”‘
Vegetarian: “Some kind of meat. I’m a vegetarian. I really hate to ask but could I please have a new one?”
Me: “Of course, I am so sorry. I’ll get that to you right away.” I rush the plate back to the kitchen and show the chef. He goes red and starts yelling at his staff. My manager runs over and demands to know what’s happening. I tell him.
Manager: “Who else saw? We can’t afford to comp more than three..”
Me: “Just her table. She told the other tables it was meat.”
My manager was so grateful he sent over an entire dessert platter and comped their meal. When I told her table their food free they left a $100 tip.
(I work at a grill. We don’t really have a vegetarian menu so this customer ordered a grilled cheese. A minute after I bring out their food she flags me down.)
Vegetarian: “I hate to be a bother but there’s um, something in my sandwich.” She shows me: a spider is stuck in the cheese. I’m freaking out, sure we’re going to have a bunch of unhappy customers.
The guy from the table next to hers tries to lean over and see it. He asks “What’s in it?”‘
Vegetarian: “Some kind of meat. I’m a vegetarian. I really hate to ask but could I please have a new one?”
Me: “Of course, I am so sorry. I’ll get that to you right away.” I rush the plate back to the kitchen and show the chef. He goes red and starts yelling at his staff. My manager runs over and demands to know what’s happening. I tell him.
Manager: “Who else saw? We can’t afford to comp more than three..”
Me: “Just her table. She told the other tables it was meat.”
My manager was so grateful he sent over an entire dessert platter and comped their meal. When I told her table their food free they left a $100 tip.
(I go to visit my 24-year-old best friend in Florida, because her boyfriend called me and told me he was going to propose. After he does so, offers her a ring, she takes it, hugs him, and then studies the ring.)
Her; what is this? *points to a small diamond on the band, that is reasonably sized*
Him; it’s a diamond! *grins*
Her; right. That’s a diamond… ha!
Him; babe, that ring cost $500!
Her; that’s not enough!
Him; what?!
She takes off the ring, and throws it into the sand, then stomps off. Her boyfriend looks at me and his friends who are standing with me, avoiding her family’s gaze. We go over to him, as her family follows him, and hug him. We hung out for the rest of my vacation, and my best friend got really angry with him. I ended up telling her to shut the f*** up, and just leave him alone, if she wanted to be such a greedy b****. Her boyfriend broke up with her then, and after a few months, visited me where I live, and we went out on a few dates. It didn’t work out, but we’re still good friends, and he did find a wife who loves her “small, cheap a** ring!” And finds the original proposal both disgusting and hilarious.
I worked nights during the week and long day shifts on the weekends at a popular burger place, known for their thick burgers. I have been on the clock for two hours when I hear yelling. It’s slow so I had to the back where the manager is yelling at the cooks. It turns out the young fools were bored and decided to play with the hose. They not only broke the sprayer but have torn the hose apart.
Just standing there looking at this fifteen-foot hose, I prayed I wouldn’t need it to clean the bathrooms. The connection to the sprayer was just hanging like a slinky and the sprayer was broken in two. One cook had the hose with the slinky, while the other cook had the handle part of the sprayer in his hand. Both boys were standing there soaked. The back half of the restaurant was soaked. Guess who had to clean up the dry stock and floors, ME. The fools had to clean the kitchen and freezer, it was right next door to where the hook up for the hose was located.
So the night continues, though the two bone heads now try to joke with me about cleaning the bathrooms, which I am dreading. I check the bathrooms. Woman’s is good, just some wiping down and sweeping but the men’s. There is one stall in there… just one… the rest is urinals. Will at some point a cherry bomb or a firecracker had been put in the toilet when it was full of SHIT. I just could not see someone pooping all over that stall because the ceiling and top part was also covered. This stall was ceiling to floor enclosed so a very small space with poop on every surface. Plus it was the farthest room from the front. I really needed that hose. Oh did I forget to say it was all dry and smelled.
No one complained about it and I had no clue when it happened. So I turned around walked right past the fools, who were snickering and right to the manager. I just told her to check out the men’s. She looked at me then the fools and went to see why I was near tears. I really was because I had no clue how to clean it or if I had time. Before she even returned I decided I wasn’t going to. The fools were back joking me and saying how I would be here all night. When did they learn I can’t say I just had a sinking feeling they had a hand in it.
My manager that night was the best, also she was pregnant. When she came back she was pissed. I mean fuming. She just watched them act a fool as she reached over to grab the buckets and brushes we kept near the hose before whistling.
“Since you think it is so funny, why don’t you go look yourself!” She said to them very calmly. They turned toward the kitchen to get back to work only for her to step in their paths. “Oh no. Since you boys broke the hose you are cleaning the men’s bathroom. Like you told (my name) it will take all night.” At that she thrusted the buckets and brushes into their hands and escorted them to the men’s. Her last parting words before turning the corner, “Start with the ceiling as that shit is going to be the hardest place to clean!”
I couldn’t believe what was happening. The cooks never cleaned the bathrooms because they had to stay with the food. As will as the cross contamination that could occur.
That night I learned how to make food and that my manager was a firm believer in Karma. They stayed in the bathrooms for the rest of the night. As I was leaving they were outside the men’s gagging and one of them had a streak down his back. His friend was trying to wipe it off with toilet paper. It was hilarious.
They never joked me about cleaning or ever touched the hose again. I stayed for another few years before I found a better job.
(I work in a call center in the comments/suggestions department. This is my first call of the day.)
Me:  220;Thank you for calling [company] comments and suggestions, this is [my name] speaking, how can I be of service today? 221;
Customer:  220;Hi, [my name], I want to start by telling you that I am in an extremely bad mood and that I realize that this is not your fault personally; I am just mad at [company], so if I am rude or aggressive in any way, I apologize. 221;
(The customer was actually the nicest call I had all day. I took down her complaint and flagged it as priority so that somebody would get to it quickly because she tried very hard not to yell at me for the company 217;s mistakes
[Several months back we started selling Star Wars themed Jell-O molds and very few of them sold, so our manager gave them to us cashiers to give away to customers. A few hours had gone by and I had quite honestly forgotten about them when a woman walked up to my register with her son, who started looking at the coloring books we have on display and I notice him looking at a Star Wars one.]
Me: (leans in a bit close, lowering my voice) Does your son like Star Wars?
Woman: Oh my gosh you have no idea! I asked if he wanted to go to the water park today and he said he’d rather sit at home and read the books I got him!
[I then mention the molds and ask if she would like one for him, and she immediately accepts.
Woman: Hey, [boy’s name], this nice lady has something for you! Like a present!
Boy: (puts down the book and walks over) But mom it’s not my birthday!
[I quickly finish the transaction and excuse myself to grab the mold from the register where they were stored. I return with it behind my back and crouch down a bit so I’m closer to his height.]
Me: So, your mom told me you like Star Wars?
Boy: (smiles and nods) Yeah, I love it!
Me: (pulls the mold out from behind my back and hands it to him) This is for you!
[The boy’s eyes lit up as he looked at the characters and he got the biggest grin on his face. He gave me the most sincere ‘Thank you!’ I have ever heard in my life and skipped off with his mom. I’m still grinning about it.]
(We’re in year 2000 or close. As a teenager, I’m slim and “nicely built” (or so I heard), yet I am VERY modest, especially on the chest area, and my family know it and respect it. I don’t mind girls who wear low-cut clothes, I think it’s really great if they enjoy it and I HATE slut-shaming, yet I’d rather get slapped or punched than showing the slightest part of my “parts”. Up to now most girls and women used to wear swimmer one-pieces on the beach, and I loved it. However, bikinis are coming back into fashion and my mom wants to buy me one of those. I accept, thinking she’ll find me a modestly cut two-pieces or anything that’ll cover everything I want to cover. She makes me try a dozen bikinis on. All of them are too low-cut for my tastes, and the shop assistant (he’s male) is staring.)
Me: “Mom, I don’t feel good in any of those.”
Shop assistant: “Are you sure? Because you look great in ALL of those!”
Me: “I don’t feel good. I’d like to try something more modest, please.”
(The shop assistant comes back with a swimsuit that is even more low-cut than the previous one. I’m running out of patience).
Me: “I’d like to try a one-piece on!”
Mom: “But you look so much better in a bikini!
Me: “Mom, EVERYONE looks good in one-pieces! They hide all the flaws!”
Shop assistant: “Which flaws? Your mom’s right, you have a bikini body!”
Me: “It’s MY body and I want to try a one-piece. I just prefer stuff I can swim with without ever losing the straps.”
Mom: “Try this one on before.”
(I try it. It’s still too low-cut for my tastes.)
Me: “I’d prefer a one-piece.”
Shop assistant: “One-pieces are for grandmothers. Is that what you want to do, looking like a granny? That would be a waste!”
Me: “I’d like something that’s not THAT low-cut, please.”
Shop assistant: “Why? You have beautiful breasts.”
(He’s staring at my cleavage and I’m just a girl. I feel dirty. To all shop assistants who read this, if a customer ever tells you she wants something more modest, just give her something more modest. Don’t make her try sexy things on “for her own good” if she doesn’t want to, especially if she’s a teenager. Prude-shaming is just as wrong as slut-shaming.)
California, College & University, Extra Stupid, Flirting, Students, USA | Romantic | April 9, 2019
(When I teach, I like to use interesting and practical examples whenever I can to keep the students engaged. We’re doing an essay on problem-solving, so I decide to show “The Martian” in class to study the character’s problem-solving skills. [Student #2 ] has been subtly flirting with [Student #1 ] all semester to no avail.)
Me: “All right, guys, make sure you’re taking notes about what problems you see and what the character does to solve them.”
Student #1 : “I can’t wait! I loved the book so much!”
Student #2 : *[trying to impress [Student #1 ]* “Uh, yeah! I did, too!”
Student #1 : “Really? I didn’t think you liked to read.”
Student #2 : *fake scoff* “I said I don’t like fiction, but this is based off of a true story.”
Bizarre, Phone, Revolting, Spouses & Partners, USA, Utah | Romantic | April 8, 2019
(My spouse works delivering and picking up medical supplies from individuals, usually homes. I call him most days to tell him how my day is going and what the baby is up to and to talk to him about how his day is going.)
Spouse: “The GPS says it’s this dilapidated old building.”
Me: “That’s weird.”
Spouse: “It’s a taxidermist.”
Me: “Now you’re just making things up.”
Spouse: “No, it really is! Maybe they work here. I’m going to go knock.”
Me: “I’m never going to see you again. A gang of kids and a Great Dane are going to have to solve the mystery of your disappearance.”
Spouse: “I’ll be right back.”
(He calls me back a few minutes later.)
Me: “You survived?”
Spouse: “It was abandoned. There was a dead bird in the window.”
Me: “Oh, well, oka— Of course there was a dead bird in the window! It’s a taxidermist, not a pet shop!”
Arizona, Bizarre, Harassment, Public Transport, Strangers, Tempe, USA | Romantic | April 7, 2019
(Parking around the university is scarce and expensive, but there is a train that stops on campus that has free parking lots farther away. After a long day of classes, I head home. I have a really heavy backpack, so I’m relieved to see there is one seat left. As it takes a few minutes to get to my stop, I pull out a book to try and squeeze in a few more pages. Almost as soon as I sit down, the guy sitting in the window seat next to me is suddenly looking very squirrely, and turns in his seat towards me.)
Guy: “Um, uhh…”
Me: “Oh, is this your stop?” *preparing to stand up and let him out*
Guy: “NO! Don’t get up! Uh, I mean, you’re fine.”
Me: “Oh, all right, then.” *looks back down at my book*
Guy: “Um, hey, whatcha reading?”
Me: *after briefly explaining the synopsis* “If you like science fiction, it’s a really good one so far. I can’t put it down.”
(The guy just gives me a blank look and grunts, so I just smile and return to reading. I don’t even make it through another sentence before he pipes up again.)
Guy: “You’re really pretty.”
(I chuckle uncomfortably.)
Guy: “And you chose to sit next to me, out of all the other seats you could have taken… I can’t believe this is happening to me. I finally have a girlfriend!”
(Thankfully, just then, my stop is coming up, so I snatch up my backpack and quickly get up.)
Me: “Er, there actually weren’t any other seats… Anyway, have a nice day.”
(The guy, who up until now has been very soft-spoken, is suddenly so loud that it startles the other passengers.)
Guy: “Oh. OH. OH, so you’re just leaving, then?!”
Me: “Well, this is where I left my car, so… yeah.”
Guy: *overly sarcastic tone* “WHATEVER. I see how it is. You’re just like every other c*** looking for a free hand out, expecting guys to just give you seats because of your rack.”
Me: “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that seat belongs to the city. And I bought a ticket.”
(The guy opened his mouth to say something else, but the doors opened and I got out. As I walked towards the car park he stared at me out the window, glaring daggers and mouthing words, oblivious to the other passengers all turning in their seats at this spectacle. I was pretty nervous about running into him on the train again since I caught the same one every day, but luckily I never did. He probably thinks he’s a nice guy, not the reason why those red panic buttons are installed.)
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Fast Food, Silly, USA | Romantic | April 4, 2019
(My boyfriend and I frequent a 24-hour, diner-style restaurant. Since we usually go late at night, we get to know one of the waitresses. One day, my boyfriend seems to just be jumping with energy. As we’re going to the register to pay, he suddenly runs out the door to the car. The waitress stares at the door for a minute.)
Waitress: “Is he all right?”
Me: “Yeah. He thinks he’s being funny by pretending to dine and dash.”
Bizarre, Dating, Extra Stupid, Jerk, Online, Tennessee, USA | Romantic | March 31, 2019
(I met this guy on a dating app, and we have been texting for a few days. I have several tattoos and he has asked to see pics — no big deal. I take some pics of the tats on my ankle and wrist and send them to him.)
Guy: “Who else is with you?”
Me: “Huh? I’m alone. Why?”
Guy: “No, seriously. Why is there another guy there taking pics of you?”
Me: “I just used the camera on my phone; it only needs one hand to take a pic.”
Guy: “No, someone else is there and you are lying to me. It’s not possible to take a pic of your right wrist with your left hand.”
Me: “Okay, you caught me. My house is haunted and the ghost was taking the pics.”
Guy: “I knew it. You lied about being alone. I can’t trust you.”
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Cleveland, Jerk, Museum, Ohio, USA | Romantic | March 29, 2019
(My museum is hosting an event with representatives from several organizations given tables to talk with guests about their services. My male, married coworker is assigned to help one of the tables and is talking to a young lady running her organization’s activities.)
Coworker: “All right, looks like everything is ready. If you need anything else, let me know.”
Lady: “I have a boyfriend.”
Coworker: “Good for you? Let me know if you need… water or something.”
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Health & Body, High School, Silly, Texas, USA | Romantic | March 28, 2019
(I have had epilepsy since I was eight, and therefore can not go to any band concerts due to the flashing and strobe lights. There was a Panic! At The Disco concert recently and my boyfriend went without me. The next day he shows me the pictures. Lead singer Brendon Urie took his shirt off during the concert. This is how the conversation goes.)
Me: “I hate not being able to go. I’ve been wanting to go forever.”
Boyfriend: “Sorry, love. We can go next time. Just don’t pay attention.”
(I stop him and look him directly in the eye.)
Me: “[Boyfriend], Brendon Urie took his shirt off. I’m going to pay attention.”
(Cue my best friend, boyfriend, and sister cracking up laughing.)
Amsterdam, Great Stuff, Jerk, Love/Romance, Money, Non-Dialogue, Retail, The Netherlands | Romantic | March 25, 2019
I worked in a jewelry shop and it was close to Valentine’s Day. A lot of men came in to buy some jewelry for the occasion, and we had some strange requests, but there’s one man that I’ll never forget.
He came in and wanted to see some diamond rings to give to “the love of his life.” I didn’t think too much of it since he was wearing Armani clothes and had a Rolex watch and some expensive rings on his fingers. He finally decided on one ring, but when I told him that that would cost 1250 Euros, he was shocked and wanted to see some cheaper rings.
So, I presented him some rings in the 500-Euro range. No, too expensive, but he wanted the best for the love of his life. Okay, some rings in the 250-Euro range? No, too expensive for the love of his life. 100 Euros? No, too expensive. Twenty minutes later, he still couldn’t decide on some cheap rings for the love of his life.
Finally, a customer next in line who saw it all happen came up with this: “Hey, Buster, why don’t you head to [Big DIY Store] and buy a copper curtain ring? The last time I was there, they were 25 cents each. Should be just about right for the love of your life. Or you could buy her an angle grinder; they’re on sale now.”
While I saw some customers grin and smirk, other customers in the shop laughed out loud. The rich guy turned red and sneaked out of the store. Of course, I gave the customer who spoke up a discount for chasing that cheapskate out of the store.
I guess you only become rich by not spending any money. Not even on “the love of your life.”
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, British Columbia, Canada, Extra Stupid, home, Silly, Vancouver | Romantic | March 24, 2019
(My boyfriend has very curly hair and isn’t a fan of haircuts, so his hair has a tendency to puff up into an afro-like style around his head. He hasn’t cut it in over a year and we’ve just moved in together.)
Me: *squinting at his hair* “Have you been using my conditioner?”
Boyfriend: “Um… Maybe. How did you know?”
Me: “Your hair isn’t as frizzy. It’s hanging down more than sticking up.”
Boyfriend: “Oh. Is that what it’s for?”
Me: “You know how you like to play with my hair because it’s all soft and shiny? That’s how I keep it that way. You really didn’t know what conditioner is for?”
Boyfriend: “I have two brothers and my parents are hippies. It wasn’t really a thing in my house growing up.”
Me: “So, why did you decide to put it on your head if you didn’t know what it was?”
Boyfriend/Girlfriend, British Columbia, Canada, Extra Stupid, home, Silly, Vancouver | Romantic | March 24, 2019
(My boyfriend has very curly hair and isn’t a fan of haircuts, so his hair has a tendency to puff up into an afro-like style around his head. He hasn’t cut it in over a year and we’ve just moved in together.)
Me: *squinting at his hair* “Have you been using my conditioner?”
Boyfriend: “Um… Maybe. How did you know?”
Me: “Your hair isn’t as frizzy. It’s hanging down more than sticking up.”
Boyfriend: “Oh. Is that what it’s for?”
Me: “You know how you like to play with my hair because it’s all soft and shiny? That’s how I keep it that way. You really didn’t know what conditioner is for?”
Boyfriend: “I have two brothers and my parents are hippies. It wasn’t really a thing in my house growing up.”
Me: “So, why did you decide to put it on your head if you didn’t know what it was?”
Boyfriend: “I was taking a shower and I got bored.”
Movie Theater, Ohio, Silly, Spouses & Partners, USA | Romantic | March 22, 2019
(My husband and I are standing in line to get snacks at a movie theater, talking while we wait. I respond to something he says in a way that’s snarky and fake-insulting, as that’s how I express my affection most of the time, and he usually volleys it right back.)
Husband: “You are ruining date night.”
Me: *gasps* “This is a date?!”
Husband: “Yes, this is date night and you’re ruining it.”
Me: “Do… do you like me?”
Husband: “…”
Me: “Do you like me like me?!”
Husband: “I’m not sure where you find divorce papers, but you’re making me really tempted to find out.”
Diễn Đàn Người Việt Hải Ngoại. Tự do ngôn luận, an toàn và uy tín. V́ một tương lai tươi đẹp cho các thế hệ Việt Nam hăy ghé thăm chúng tôi, hăy tâm sự với chúng tôi mỗi ngày, mỗi giờ và mỗi giây phút có thể. VietBF.Com Xin cám ơn các bạn, chúc tất cả các bạn vui vẻ và gặp nhiều may mắn.
Welcome to Vietnamese American Community, Vietnamese European, Canadian, Australian Forum, Vietnamese Overseas Forum. Freedom of speech, safety and prestige. For a beautiful future for Vietnamese generations, please visit us, talk to us every day, every hour and every moment possible. VietBF.Com Thank you all and good luck.
News
Library
Technology
Giải Trí
Portals
Tin Sốt
Home
