The Lacrosse Pharmacist by Galena

The Lacrosse Pharmacist by Galena - March 2020 Scholarship Essay

Influences from my past and present have helped shape what I am envisioning for my future and have led me on the path of discovering the right university and career. That vision includes going to college at the University of Findlay to study pharmacy, playing lacrosse and then becoming a pharmacist after graduation. I have not decided what part of the country that I want to live in however, I do know that I want to be in a rural setting.
When I was young, one of my best friends used to live down the street from me. She has a younger sister that suffers from spina bifida, epilepsy, latex allergies and a variety of other issues. Watching her journey piqued my interest in the medical field, and I started thinking that working in medicine would be an interesting job.
As I got older, I have had to go through three surgeries and a rare skin disease. Each surgery was for something different including an abdominal hernia, torn labrum in my shoulder and having my tonsils removed. Each time, it was fascinating dealing with the medical staff at the office, the hospital and physical therapy. The most interesting aspect was the medications and how my body reacted to them. This helped me decide that the medical profession that was the best fit was a pharmacist. My parents got a Physicians Desk Reference for my birthday that year which is giant book of medications. I enjoy looking up all the medications that everyone I know is taking. By my third surgery, I already knew what medications the doctor would prescribe and how they would work.
Part of my educational goals include sports. I have been a lacrosse goalie since I was 10 years old and plan to continuing playing in college. Trying to help younger players, I organized and ran a youth goalie clinic two years ago and I have volunteered at general lacrosse youth clinics for three years. Not wanting to be owned by a coach with sports coming first and academics second, I decided that a Division I school was not right for me. I searched for pharmacy schools that fit my personality first and then cross matched that list to schools that had a lacrosse program.
My family moved from a suburb to a small family homestead about two years ago. I never realized what I was missing living in a city. It has been wonderful living in the country with the nightly owls hooting and coyotes howling. There are deer that seem to show up at dusk under the apple tree every evening. Each season has brought more surprises figuring out what types of trees and shrubs that we have on the property. My first meal at the new house was a salad I picked of wild carrot, dandelions and raspberries. We planted a large garden and raised chickens and steers this year. I have learned how to can applesauce, pears and jellies including rose hip jelly. When considering colleges, it was easy to eliminate any school in a large city or that had a large campus. I have come to love the rural life.
Most of the colleges that I looked at have either a four-year pre-pharmacy program, then two more years to get a Master’s degree or it is a five-year program to get a Bachelor’s degree. Even the schools that have a five-year program normally have the students in pre-pharmacy the first two years with a competitive application process for admittance into the third year. Attrition rates are high at these schools. The college that I want to go to has a 0-6 Doctorate of Pharmacy program. This is unique for pharmacy programs. It is difficult to get into as a first-year student and a bit more expensive than other state schools but appears to be worth the effort and cost. Any scholarship would help offset the extra tuition at this university.
The long-term goal of going to college and studying pharmacy has the finish line in site. I expect to find a pharmacist job in a rural setting after graduation. I hope to have my own little mini-farm to use up all of my spare time when not working or coaching lacrosse.