WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

As a child, I thought that taking medicine was the coolest thing ever. The fact that a pill can help cure people of diseases or disorders fascinated me. Fast-forward to my junior year of high school, I took the highest level chemistry class available, and it intrigued me. Learning about molecules and science helped further my passion for medicine. However, while the passion was there, I severely lacked knowledge about differing medicines. I decided to pursue this topic, not only to test my future career as a pharmacist, but also to gain knowledge regarding things that save lives every day. Medicine helps patients with harsh diseases and disorders that can become fatal.

Even to this day, I still continue to wonder where the future of medicine is going, especially since many become dependent upon medicine to help regulate their body. Therefore, I am continuing to research the effects that medicine has on the human body and how similar medications have differing side effects and regulations. I would like to discover the long term effects of medications and how they affect children of parents who become dependent upon medicine. In regards to diseases, I would like to learn how bacteria adapts to medicine and builds resistance towards it.

WHAT I KNOW

Upon beginning my research, I knew diseases built resistance to medicine. With regards to medications, I knew common narcotics such as Percocet and common antibiotics such as Amoxicillin. Besides about a handful of medicine, my knowledge of medications was sparse. Over the past eight months, I have grown familiar with almost every medicine that requires a prescription. I know the generic names for the brand medications, learned some of the purposes of the medications, and what certain medications are administered to treat. While I still learn new things every day about different medicines, my knowledge about medicines has expanded far beyond my imagination.

MY STORY

Beginning at the pharmacy was difficult. Given that I had no previous experience, I had to learn everything during my training. While it only took a few days to learn generic medications for common medicines such as Xanax, it took several months to learn generic names for more obscure medications such as Seroquel and Cymbalta. Throughout my time at the pharmacy, I have also learned what certain medications treat. For example, I have learned that Lisinopril is used to treat blood pressure, while Metformin is used to treat diabetes. The hardworking and patient environment present at Goodson Drug has helped me gain the knowledge that I currently have. They help me strive for my greatest potential inside the pharmacy and outside of it.

INTERVIEW

1. When did you decide that you wanted this as a career?

I knew that it had the hours that I was looking for. They are really good at working with everyone's schedule and that was originally a big deal for me. Plus, I have always gone to this pharmacy, and I love the atmosphere. Something inside of me really wanted to do this. Working at a pharmacy has always interested me.

2. Is there anyone who influinced you to do this?

Before I started working at Goodson's, I was the only one that truly influinced myself to work here. No one was pushing me to work anywhere, but I had support for doing whatever I wanted. However, when I started working here, everyone who works here showed me that it is the perfect place for me.

3. What motivates you to go to work everyday?

You mean besides money? The great atmosphere and fun that I have doing this job keeps me motivated. There really is never a boring moment here.

4. How do you deal with terrible customers?

You know this by now. I just deal with their problems to get them out of here as soon as possible. Then I just complain to everyone about it, same as everyone else here.

5. What is it like to know a significant amount of the customers?

It's both tiring and helpful. There are times when I am constantly rushing around trying to help the customers who specifically want me to help them with something, but I guess it's helpful to know what specific things each customer wants.

6. What have you done about coworkers that you hate?

Complain to the ones I like and avoid the ones I don't. However, it is nice to keep good relationships with all coworkers, so I make sure to constantly talk with everyone here. I just attempt to avoid conversation more with them than with others.

7. What is it like to work for the same company for a long time?

Well, since I love my job, it's fun. For some people, it gets boring, but not for me. As I progress and work here longer, I am more trusted to do different things and by now I know everything. So it's nice to be able to do whatever is needed.

8. What do you like the least about this job?

There isn't really anything that I don't like about this job. Actually, yeah there is. I hate making some of the compounds. Like creating some of the capsules is just boring and tedious.

9. Do you love your job?

I am pretty sure that I have said that throughout this interview. I wouldn't ask for any other job out there. This place has truly become my second home.

10. How am I as a coworker?

I mean your sassiness is off of the charts, but I guess its amazing. You're pretty good at your job, I guess. You know I am kidding; you have been a real help. You are super ambitious and you are always looking for work to do. I think everyone can count on you to do something when it is needed. You pick up some of the coworkers slack and that's a really good trait that is helpful in the real world.

MY DISCOVERY

Outside of the pharmacy, I have conducted research about medicine to help further my knowledge. Through articles regarding the CDC, I have learned real world applications of how medicine is utilized to save lives and help prevent epidemics, such as the Ebola and Zika outbreaks. Through rapid response programs, the CDC has been able to go to the originating countries to treat the sick and develop knowledge of the disease. Likewise, I have learned of new developments within technology that have helped further the development of medicine. These inventions include the iPOP, which has been able to help detect diseases in earlier stages than ever before. This helps researchers and drug developers better understand diseases such as HIV and AIDS, therefore, helping them create effect protection, prevention, and cures for them.