I've read many mangas and stories, watched many dramas and animes, and listened to many experiences and opinions. One of the common aspects they all share is answering some sort of "why" question. Why did you stay in this world rather than going back to your world? Why did you choose this career path? Why do/did you do that? Why do you protect/stand up for your enemy? Why do you fight? etc, etc... It's interesting to continue reading/watching/listening to find out why these characters (or real people in some cases) chose their actions.
"Because there's still something I have to do."
"Because there's something I can do."
"Because there's something I want to do."
"Because I understand what you're going through."
"Because I care about how you are understood."
"Because I have something I want to protect."
So, where does this lead me sometimes? Why did I choose pharmacy? As I was walking to badminton practice (that unfortunately was canceled because of song-girl tryouts and without any prior notification. angryyy), thoughts ran through my mind leading to so many sprouting reasons to why I chose pharmacy. And it makes it even clearer to me that I really have no idea what kind of work I want to do with a PharmD degree.
Since I can't pinpoint exactly when I started taking an interest in pharmacy-type stuff (medications, consultations, patient care, prescriptions, over-the-counters, all that good stuff), I'll just say I started when I enjoyed drinking strange herb soups that my mom concocted occasionally. Love the black chicken with ginseng and other herbs that I have no idea what they are called. Enjoyed the swallows nest soup that I don't remember the taste to (but remember I liked it....). Was okay with taking strange white powder from super tiny cute wine jar-shaped vessels (about 1 inch tall). That stuff really didn't have much taste, and it was supposed to help boost the immune system. And, became really interested in herbal meds for exterior application when I had strange black-brown goop applied to my ankle when I rolled it during badminton. It smelled bad, but it felt good. What chemicals made these natural substances usable for improving a part of one's health? What did they do? My mom told me, "well, what about pharmacy?" This was around freshman year high school. My response: "Pharmacy? What's that?" Even now, I don't have a complete understanding of pharmacy because it's such a huge profession that includes so many possible specializations along with the usual, more well-known community and hospital pharmacy. And I get asked, "what does a pharmacist do?" I want people to know that it's hard to give a simple answer to that question because of the different work that pharmacists can choose to go into. Yeah, pharmacists dispense medication, provide consultations on drugs, call doctors to check on prescriptions, give out drugs... but there are pharmacists who are able to write prescriptions in the specialized setting (oncology pharmacist, for example). There are pharmacists in hospitals that make rounds to the actual patient to check on their condition and see if the drug recommendation is really suitable or not. And there are pharmacists who research on ways to improve existing drugs, on designing new drugs, and on determining chemicals that can come into good use as potential drugs. and probably even more. There are pharmacists that deal specifically with drugs with radioactive properties (nuclear pharmacy). But I'm getting a little off topic...
So, many types of pharmacists, what do I want to do? Patient-interaction would let me have a direct relationship with the people who take drugs I know about, so I could give them more specific care than what's written on the label. Working at a community pharmacy makes me kind of lean away from becoming a community pharmacist.... but maybe temporarily? Hmm... Hospital pharmacy could have much direct patient interaction, or I could even be making specific drug dosages that are not normally given. Or, I could specialize, since residency is a big plus (it's not required for pharmacists). Or, I could research. What I want to be able to accomplish with my job is increasing awareness for the importance of proper drug usage and increased knowledge about health. We shouldn't be promoting medication usage for every possible uncomfortable occurrence (slight cough? Tylenol. slight cut? some antibiotic). Is it really that safe to depend so much on medication? I understand that in some instances, it's impossible to not be on medication; but if you can, why not avoid it?
[added thought at 9:23pm] What if this interest in the entertainment world is pursued further than just watching pieces (and sometimes masterpieces) from producers? camera, make-up, design, props, organization.. maybe even some drug knowledge could come in handy. Just letting my mind wander some more.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
XXVIII : Treatment
Last week, towards the end of work at the pharmacy, a guy comes up to the front desk and asks me, "do you have any medicine for bruises?" Something about he had fallen from skateboarding (or longboarding) and had a bruise. I was thinking, "YES. IT'S CALLED FOOD. YOUR BODY CAN PERFECTLY TAKE CARE OF THE BRUISE!" But I said, "sorry, I don't know about that. You can talk to a pharmacist at the counter to your right if you want." goshes. Maybe he had an illness that a bruise required medication because his body was incapable of healing itself well enough? But then he would get a prescription medicine for it, right? So I assumed he was a healthy individual and his body could very well heal on its own. Why is there a need for applying medication on a bruise?
Which leads me to this book:
It began way in the 1950s when human growth hormone (hGH) was discovered to increase height in people (whereas bovine and other animal growth hormone did not), so it was used to treat people with severe dwarfism, people who lacked sufficient hGH, and people whose bodies didn't respond to the levels of hGH they were naturally making. Yet parents pushed for the hGH to be available to their shorter-than-average kids, who usually were quite healthy physically and mentally, though ones who were teased and bullied because of their short stature did exist. The whole book details the problems that resulted in purifying the pituitary gland's hard work, diseases that sprouted among the injected, and government and private companies. The whole "my kid is short so he/she should be made taller because you can do so" is like the "I have a bruise, so I need medication for it" situation in a way. Sometimes, people simplify resolving issues too much, and it gets dangerous. Injecting healthy people with hGH with the justification that their psychosocial problems would be solved allowed more and more parents to use that justification to push their children to obtain hGH to supposedly reach their "potential height." Children as young as 7 started and were monitored. Conclusion: "Normal" changes. It may be difficult to accept what is there, but wouldn't accepting that make whatever results all the more valuable? For instance, the book had a story of two brothers, in which the younger one was extremely short for his age. The psychiatrist documented was against the use of hGH in healthy children because he believed that treating the psychological problem started with self-image. One quote that stood out was when the younger brother said "I may look ten, but I act twelve." One seems to always be overcoming something.
It's ridiculous what people would do to others (or even individuals to themselves) to meet their expectations. But I guess being ridiculous is also just a part of life.
Which leads me to this book:
It began way in the 1950s when human growth hormone (hGH) was discovered to increase height in people (whereas bovine and other animal growth hormone did not), so it was used to treat people with severe dwarfism, people who lacked sufficient hGH, and people whose bodies didn't respond to the levels of hGH they were naturally making. Yet parents pushed for the hGH to be available to their shorter-than-average kids, who usually were quite healthy physically and mentally, though ones who were teased and bullied because of their short stature did exist. The whole book details the problems that resulted in purifying the pituitary gland's hard work, diseases that sprouted among the injected, and government and private companies. The whole "my kid is short so he/she should be made taller because you can do so" is like the "I have a bruise, so I need medication for it" situation in a way. Sometimes, people simplify resolving issues too much, and it gets dangerous. Injecting healthy people with hGH with the justification that their psychosocial problems would be solved allowed more and more parents to use that justification to push their children to obtain hGH to supposedly reach their "potential height." Children as young as 7 started and were monitored. Conclusion: "Normal" changes. It may be difficult to accept what is there, but wouldn't accepting that make whatever results all the more valuable? For instance, the book had a story of two brothers, in which the younger one was extremely short for his age. The psychiatrist documented was against the use of hGH in healthy children because he believed that treating the psychological problem started with self-image. One quote that stood out was when the younger brother said "I may look ten, but I act twelve." One seems to always be overcoming something.
It's ridiculous what people would do to others (or even individuals to themselves) to meet their expectations. But I guess being ridiculous is also just a part of life.
Monday, November 2, 2009
XXVII : Dreams
G Unit Babies have grown splendidly! :) It is amazing and makes my heart thrilled to see these every day. Even though, I admit, I have not been the one watering them (I haven't watered them since the night they were planted), they have been growing well. Maybe it's because I haven't been the one taking care of them (putting them in the sun and such) that they're thriving so well. Let there be a small timeline for these lil 'uns:
10/20/09
10/22/09
10/24/09
10/25/09
10/31/09
11/1/09
Their growth is AMAZING!! The sad moments though include the two dreams so far that I have had about these plants. I dreamed they were bonsai trees, but grayed and lifeless. They had been dead for a while, dried out already. But one (I forget which one) was still striving to live on. And I was trying to move them around to a richer soil. That was this morning. The other dream was a while ago, in which I dreamed they were drowning. The soil was eating them up because whenever we water them, the soil level drops, so in the dream, somehow the baby trees dropped more... or something. I hope these can become great trees somewhere in this area.
On another note, my dream has finally come true!! My goal has been reached! I received a perfect 150/150 on my pchem exam! woot! Finally, I can say that I was able to take an exam with no mistakes made! :) Happiness is when dreams come true. Happiness is when the soul can fly freely. Happiness is when worry is dismissed. Happiness is here.
Now, I must study for Physics and Art History... happiness comes, unfortunately, in too short moments. Happy November!
10/20/09
10/22/09
10/24/09
10/25/09
10/31/09
11/1/09
Their growth is AMAZING!! The sad moments though include the two dreams so far that I have had about these plants. I dreamed they were bonsai trees, but grayed and lifeless. They had been dead for a while, dried out already. But one (I forget which one) was still striving to live on. And I was trying to move them around to a richer soil. That was this morning. The other dream was a while ago, in which I dreamed they were drowning. The soil was eating them up because whenever we water them, the soil level drops, so in the dream, somehow the baby trees dropped more... or something. I hope these can become great trees somewhere in this area.
On another note, my dream has finally come true!! My goal has been reached! I received a perfect 150/150 on my pchem exam! woot! Finally, I can say that I was able to take an exam with no mistakes made! :) Happiness is when dreams come true. Happiness is when the soul can fly freely. Happiness is when worry is dismissed. Happiness is here.
Now, I must study for Physics and Art History... happiness comes, unfortunately, in too short moments. Happy November!
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