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

Balancing Life

P2

The end of the school year was bittersweet. The year went by so fast, and I miss everyone in school. However, it is definitely a nice break. The last quarter was easier than the 2nd quarter, but it had its own challenges. After finishing a whole year, I feel accomplished, I feel like I have a better grasp of the pharmacy profession, and also the amount of work I need to put in to be successful.

This past year was my first year in Loma Linda. I can honestly say it has been one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life. The best part about this past year was meeting new people. I made friends I know I’ll have in my life for a very long time. I also had the privilege of being surrounded by brilliant professors; to be taught by them and learn from their experience. I also volunteered to do research with the pharmacists at Loma Linda University Medical Center, which gave me the opportunity to interact with patients–something that I absolutely loved.

The hardest thing about pharmacy school for me is balancing school and family. Before starting pharmacy school, I was with my children fulltime. After starting pharmacy school a lot of my time was divided between studying, going to class and rotations; this did not leave much time for me to be with my children. I spent much of the first quarter trying to find the right balance and once I did, everything fell into place.

Another lesson I learned in pharmacy school is if you need help; whether you’re overwhelmed, worried about grades, have questions about a subject, always always always get help. Never wait till the last minute to ask for help because it might be too late. Every person I reached out to in school was more than willing to listen to me, advise me, and then follow up with me to make sure everything worked out.

My summer has been great so far. During the school year I missed spending time with my kids and husband, and going out and doing things with them. This whole summer I’ve just focused on my family. My husband is a surfer and both our boys love the water so we’ve been spending all our time either in the pool or the beach learning to surf. I also volunteered with my church to raise donation for the homeless.

I made a bucket list for the summer and so far I’ve kept up with it. One of the items on my list is to work out and stay in shape, which so far I have kept up with. I also am learning Spanish. Finally, I’m also doing review and preparation for my second year.

I am looking forward to seeing my classmates again this next school year. I am also very excited about the second year because we dive into the real pharmacist stuff! We get to learn therapeutics this year. I am also looking forward to hospital rotation. I’ve worked in retail and mail order pharmacy, and it will be very interesting to experience working in the hospital.

Lastly, I would like to add a motivational quote:

“The difference between who you are and who you want to be, is what you do. You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Remember, people seldom do things to the best of their ability; they do things to the best of their willingness. Follow your heart, and do something every day that your future self will thank you for.”

– Marc and Angel

Tags:

beach, family, Spanish, Summer, Volunteer

Meet Sali, First Year Pharmacy Student

Introductions

Name: Sali
Birthplace: Baghdad, Iraq
Undergrad: UC San Diego
Random Fact: Lived in Malaysia for 10 years
Interests: Swimming, Yoga

My name is Sali and I was born in Baghdad, Iraq. When I was four years old, the gulf war erupted. It was a very difficult time for my family and me. Due to the sanctions imposed on Iraq, my father, who is a pilot, lost his job. The next five years were a complete struggle for us. In 1996, my father accepted a position with Malaysian airlines, and we moved to Malaysia. Malaysia was a wonderful experience for me. It was the first time in my life where I felt safe. In Malaysia there are three main races; Malays, Chinese, and Indians. I was fortunate to be part of each culture and share in their rich and colorful philosophy. In 2006, my father’s contract ended, and this time we moved to the United States.

I have always known that I wanted to be in the healthcare field, I just wasn’t sure which one. One day while browsing the internet, I decided to take a career test, and the result was a Pharmacist. I had very little knowledge about what a pharmacist does, and the impact they have on the lives of others, so I decided to get some experience working in the pharmacy. I was licensed as a pharmacy technician and started working with CVS Pharmacy. Being a pharmacy technician was a great experience for me and I decided to pursue a Doctorate of Pharmacy Degree. During my time working with CVS I met my husband, and my biggest influence to be a pharmacist.

I did my undergraduate degree at University of California, San Diego, where I majored in Biology. During undergrad I started volunteering to feed the homeless in San Diego. I was truly touched and humbled by this experience. Although I lived through a war and saw many difficulties in my life, I always had hope. These people lived in one of the top countries in the world, yet they slept on the hard floor and had no idea when their next meal would be. This volunteer opportunity was another reason I chose pharmacy because I realized I enjoyed interacting with people and helping them.

2012 and 2013 were two very special years for me. In January 2012 I got married, in June I graduated, and in October my husband and I welcomed our first son, Andrew. In December of 2013, we welcomed our second son, John, and four days later I found out I was accepted to Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my family. My father is a source of strength and confidence for me. My mother is wise and always says the right things. My sister and brothers are my best friends. My husband is my rock, and my children inspire me to be the best person I can be.

One of the quotes that has inspired me is “Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence” – Pope John Paul II

Tags:

Biology, Faith, Gulf War, Iraq, Malaysia, UC San Diego, Volunteer