Trust me, I'm a "wanna be" Pharmacist

Hi everyone, Christine here!

I get so many questions as to why I chose Pre-Pharmacy as my major; the answer to this question usually surprises anyone that asks. When you’re younger, your friends usually want to be teachers, police officers, firemen, or professional athletes; me, I was the odd one out- I wanted to become a Pharmacist. What fourth grader has any idea of what a Pharmacist does or even is?

In my nine year old mind, I pieced together what I thought Pharmacist did: they give you medicine that makes you feel better. Who wouldn’t want to make everyone feel better?! As I grew up, I learned more about the role of a Pharmacist. They are the ones to not only fill your prescription, but they check for drug interactions, and make sure that you understand the side effects of the medication. In addition to that, they are there give you advice on your health or if you have questions regarding over-the-counter medication; they really are the drug experts.

I have always loved science, biology in particular, working as a team, and helping others who need it; pharmacy encompasses all of these areas. People know that Pre-Pharmacy is a rigorous and you have to be dedicated to the work that you do. I’ve learned in my own experiences that Pharmacists are one of the most trusted health care professionals. I worked in a pharmacy the summer before coming to UConn to make sure that this really was the career path I wanted to pursue. The Pharmacist I worked with taught me that although the course that I need to take may seem impossibly tough, but the career of a Pharmacist is extremely rewarding. My ultimate goal is to work in a children’s hospital with pediatric specialists to make sure that children are receiving the correct amount of medication and that they are getting the best health care available. Even though I have a lot of work to do, I know that in the end, all of the time and hard work that I have put in will pay off.