Improving by Beatrice

Improving by Beatrice - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

As a child, the majority of adults I knew were involved in healthcare, which sparked my curiosity concerning this field. I became passionate about this field because I wanted to see people who were suffering from any ailment recover and lead a healthy life after watching numerous educational shows and programs such as The Magic School Bus. I strongly believe that I can make a difference in many lives and I am curious to learn more about how the human body interacts with different medicines and treatments. The thought of witnessing patients become healthier because of my assistance is incredibly rewarding to me. In recent years, I have been considering pharmacy, specifically clinical or consultant pharmacy because I am passionate about gaining a deeper understanding of the chemistry of medicine. I would like to understand how certain medications can be so important for an individual that they must continue taking them for their entire life. For instance, in cases where people suffer from high blood pressure or depression and have to rely on medications. My father has high blood pressure and I have always wondered how his medicine can negate or mask some of the symptoms that he could have. Seeing many people affected by medicine further piques my interest. Medicine has also been a staple part of my life. I often take Tylenol or ibuprofen because my head hurts on certain days. One moment where medicine affected me occurred in sixth grade when I had surgery to remove a tumor in my leg called chondroblastoma. At first, I was scared of the possibility of becoming addicted to the pain medicine I would receive after the surgery, but I eventually got the surgery and the anesthesia helped it run smoothly and keep me unconscious. I did not become addicted to that medicine afterward. After that surgery, I have become fascinated by the way medicines can be a saving grace but also contain addictive agents that can make them deadly. A few years later in eleventh grade, I spoke to a clinical pharmacist for a career research essay in English class. During our conversation, I learned about the responsibilities of the job, which include dispensing medication and educating patients on how to take them properly. The pharmacist I spoke to also elaborated on the other tasks he was required to accomplish and his work hours. He mentioned how he meets patients every day to figure out what medicine they need. This further bolstered my desire to follow in his footsteps and provide aid for people the way he did so easily.