Admission Essay
As Phillip Pullman once mentioned, “If you want something you can have it, but only if you want everything that goes with it, including all the hard work and the despair, and only if you're willing to risk failure.” This quotation reflects my way to my dream in full. Since my early years I have known that I want to pursue a career that would be related to medicine. I was excited about heroes who help people get through their diseases and ease their pain.
Unfortunately, in my country hardly everyone could expect proper medical treatment. I grew up in Bangladesh, a country with poor medical conditions and limited access to proper medication. Moreover, due to the fact that medical assistance is very expensive that poor people cannot afford even doctor’s appointment, they try to self-medicate themselves with no prior knowledge. As they barely have any source of advice, be it a pharmacist or even the Internet, people often took the wrong medicines that lead to worse health issues. That is why people often die because of the wrong choice of drug, its side effects or overdose. This inspired me to become a pharmacist who would be a specialist in medications and drugs and help people recover. I want my profession to be the one that can contribute to saving lives and improving the situation in the medical field in my country.
I followed my cherished dream. I completed 3 years of the Bachelor of Pharmacy in Bangladesh with a GPA of 3.64, and then I moved to the U.S. I have spent about 4 years here, which were extremely difficult for me. Things were different after moving, as I needed to start my life all over again. I needed to earn to pay my tuition fee and some other educational expenses. Therefore, I had to combine work and education, and do everything with diligence and quality. I found a job that held me occupied more than 40 hours per week. Besides, I was going to the community college that was the first step towards being a Pharmacist in the U.S. It was challenging to keep my grades high and work that hard, but I managed to do that. It took me three years instead of two to comply with the requirements that made me eligible to apply for a PharmD program. My dream is coming true now, thanks to the support of my family. It was their love and their hope that made me stronger and pushed me to stay loyal to my dream.
Pharmacy has defined my life. I have spent some years working in a retail pharmacy that taught me the way drugs are prescribed, applied and how they act. I was taught lots of duties and responsibilities that a pharmacist has as a medical worker towards his every customer. I realized the importance of drugs in the life of people, and what it means to work with clients who know nothing about the medication they buy or try to self-medicate. I realized that being a pharmacist means saving people’s lives by explaining the role and effects of every medication hey intend to use. This is as noble and required occupation as doctor, because with no treatment even the best doctors can fail.
My personal features make me a good candidate for the program. I am a responsible, diligent and industrious person. I have patience that is needed while working with people, and hardworking mentality. I always crave to know more and pay attention to the smallest detail. I am motivated and I want to serve my mission well. Moreover, I am capable to work under pressure and keep a good balance.
I am sure that the Doctor of Pharmacy degree will deepen my knowledge and provide me with new information regarding treatment and medication. I am planning to continue working as a pharmacy intern, even when I start studying, to apply my skills and knowledge in practice. Later, I want to become a pharmacist, working for a non-profit organization, who works directly with patients. Also, I want to travel across the world to those countries, population of which has limited access to proper drugs and medication and whose level of medical ‘literacy’ and awareness is very low. At least one year after completing my doctoral degree, I would want to hold seminars in those countries to make people more aware of what they buy and how they self-medicate.
I know exactly how I will apply my knowledge and skills and what will be my contribution and assistance to people. I am aware of all challenges and opportunities that await me during the studying process. I look forward to getting new knowledge and skills to serve people better.
