Very Exciting and Very Scary

Millina

This past June marked the end of the didactics portion of pharmacy school for me. I thought it would feel like a weight lifted off my shoulders, but I am honestly going to miss going to class every day. Soon after our last class one of my friends, Nadine Shokralla, sent us this text: “We officially have learned everything we need to know to be licensed pharmacists and are no longer able to say I haven’t learned that yet.” And let’s just say that was one of the scariest moments of my life. To know that we are done with three-quarters of pharmacy school and all we have left is one year of rotations is terrifying. Then comes May, which is what everyone of us is looking forward to. My classmates and I will be walking on the lawn in front of chapel to receive our PharmDs and then onto taking our boards and becoming licensed pharmacists. Do you see how that can be both very exciting and very scary?

School has been a very big part of my life, it is going to be very weird for me to not have to go to class or study for a test after graduation. Don’t get me wrong, I am very excited to graduate and be done, but I am going to miss going to school at 7:15 AM every day, sitting with my friend Christie Bolous in the student lounge studying or talking until our class starts at 9:00 AM. I am going to miss running around during lunchtime from one meeting to the other. I am going to miss being president of NCPA. I am going to miss all the amazing administrative staff and all the events that they plan for us. I am going to miss all the outreach events that we did with all the different organizations on campus. I am going to miss school. Pharmacy school is not just about studying and getting good grades like I first thought during my first quarter back in Fall of 2012; there is so much more to learn and do. It was during my time here at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy that I developed my leadership skills. It was during my time here that I made long lasting friendships that I would not trade for anything else. It was during my time here that I discovered more about myself and about what I would like to do with my future. I am going to miss school and everything else that comes with it.

The hardest thing about being a third year is that you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the year that marks the end of lectures, quizzes, midterms and finals. This is the year when it all ends because our fourth year is all about building our clinical experiences. That feeling sets in right about the end of fall quarter and all I was left with is senioritis and that is not good at all! I started putting some work off until the latest I could possibly can which really drives me crazy. I work best under pressure, but I would rather not have to stress out all the time. It took a lot of motivation and a lot of determination to fight senioritis and the battle was still going on until my last final when I could enjoy a day off before I started working a few hours later.

My plans for the summer consisted of work and going to Camp Conrad Chinnock (aka: Diabetes Camp) as a medical volunteer for two weeks. Over at camp I learned how to work in a team that consisted of an EMT, a medical student, and me, to take care of two of the boy’s cabins. Diabetes camp is an amazing experience that I would not trade for anything else. Everyone expects us to say that we made a difference in those campers’ lives, but the truth is that they made a difference in my life. For them to let me provide care and trust that I am giving them the correct insulin dose means that they trusted me, and that is huge. They trusted me, listened to my recommendations, believed in me, and taught me a lot. Getting to know them and their problems, not just the medical aspect but also the social, makes me understand a lot. It cleared things up and made me feel that I am not alone and I am not the only going through problems. Going through everything with them makes me realize that others have it much worse, and all of a sudden none of that matters because these campers are changing me from the inside out.

Tags:

diabetes camp, friendship, leadership, rotations, Volunteer

Why I Chose Loma Linda

Millina

Why did I choose Loma Linda? Loma Linda was my #1 choice. I knew I wanted to stay in California to be with my family. Also, my friend, who is currently in the P4 class, told me about all the great memories and how she is enjoying LLUSP. I also longed for a Christian university. In Egypt, I went to a Catholic school where we had to take religion classes and go to church every week and I kind of missed that sense of community while in high school and undergrad here.

I am a third year currently. The most challenging part of third year is just organizing my time between work, school, and extracurricular activities. This year had its ups and downs; it’s that feeling of being almost done so the desire to procrastinate is very strong, but I have to keep going and I still need to keep my grades up. This year I also took on the position of NCPA president and class of 2016 secretary, in addition to working at least 12 hours/week. I had to find time to be able to balance everything and still have time for my family, my friends and myself.

Studying for different classes is challenging. I have not found a study method that works for all classes. For every class I kind of have to gage my level of understanding and how I can make studying for it a little easier. For the most part I found that studying first and then making my own notes and charts works really well. I try to study the notes that same day after the lecture while it is still fresh in my mind and then make my own study notes. When it comes to reviewing before a test, I just review my notes.

I knew coming to LLU was going to be the right place for me; all the mentors I have encountered proved that to me time after time. I have had a lot of mentors through my three years here at LLUSP. My mentors here start with Dr. Rashid Mosavin, who is the faculty advisor for NCPA. He has always been there for the organization and for me when I needed advice. My second mentor at LLUSP is Dr. Nancy Kawahara; through her I was introduced to type 1 diabetes camp and I spent one of my memorable weeks at camp. She was always there for me while at camp and upon our return as well. My third mentor is Rithy Tamba – without her or her support I don’t think I would have been able to run NCPA as efficiently and smoothly as things have been going. Dr. Jeany Jun taught me Endocrine during my 2nd year and I was fortunate enough to have her as my preceptor for my IPPE3. It was only a five day rotation, but I learned so much during those five days. She also encouraged me to keep learning Spanish and to improve on my interviewing and presentation skills. Last but not least is my friend and my PSN mentor, Sara Faheem, PY4. We have been friends since before pharmacy school. She has been my mentor since applications and throughout her time here at LLUSP.

An experience that I had and would not trade for anything was the chance to go to Camp Conrad Chinook AKA Diabetes camp as a medical volunteer with Dr. Kawahara. At camp I didn’t just learn about type 1 diabetes, but also about all the struggles and the limitations that come with it. I didn’t just learn about dosing insulin, but also about dealing with such a chronic disease that alters the whole family’s dynamic. I feel blessed to have been part of that experience and to be part of it again this summer as a peer mentor. I like LLUSP because I feel that we are family. Everyone here cares about my success and they help me do everything that I need to do.

Tags:

community, diabetes, Egypt, mentors, NCPA

Meet Millina, Third Year Pharmacy Student

Millina

Name: Millina
Hometown: Cairo, Egypt
Undergrad: BS Chemistry, U. of California Irvine
Random Fact: My friends call me Millie (like milli in mL)
Interests: Reading and watching movies, especially mystery and adventure

Hi! My name is Millina, but my friends call me Mellie just like milli in mL. I am full Egyptian. I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt until the age of 14, which was when I moved to the US. I moved here in October 2005 with my parents and my little sister Monica (well she is not so little anymore).

As a pharmacy student, my day usually starts really early. I am almost always out of the house by 6:30 AM. I am beyond blessed to have a mom that cooks and packs my lunch for me every morning! She is a strong woman who hardly complains even though we put her through a lot. She doesn’t speak English that well; however, she has been encouraging my sister and I to chase our dreams and to never give up.

When I was in high school, I took an ROP (Regional Occupational Program) class to obtain my license as a pharmacy technician. I have wanted to be a pharmacist since I was a little girl living in Egypt, when I came to the US I kept that dream in mind. I was actively seeking ways to improve my application and my chances. During that ROP class, I participated in a competition for pharmacy technician students in San Bernardino County and I was awarded a certificate of recognition from the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino and a certificate of recognition by the California Association of Regional Occupational Programs.

After high school, I went to UCI to get a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Biological Sciences. Those 4 years at UCI were bittersweet. I lived in the dorms because I did not have my driver license until I was 20 years old. I actually had to wake up early and cook since I couldn’t take my mom with me. I learned how to live independently, I took care of the bills, I got a job as a laboratory assistant during the week and a weekend job as a pharmacy technician. I was determined to do everything I could to achieve my dreams.

Now why pharmacy? I have always liked the sciences, especially chemistry. I enjoy math and working in the healthcare field. I definitely do not like blood but I love talking to patients. I enjoy learning about the medications and how they can help or harm if used incorrectly. I see a need for compassionate caring pharmacists. From my work as a pharmacy technician, I also know what can happen when patients are not educated about the side effects and about their disease states, so I want to help.

There you go, a little peek into my life.

Tags:

Chemistry, Egypt, UC Irvine