SOS, will I ever be good enough in my profession???

"Good luck getting into Pharmacy school"

"I am surprised your presentation isn't all pink and glittery"

"You need to be quieter, more subdued. People will never take you seriously"

"You cannot wear that, it will give you the wrong sort of attention"

"Do not take this personally, but you sound dumb"

All of this and so so much more is what I have had to endure in both undergrad and pharmacy graduate school. You might be wondering, how could ANYONE even think to say something like that? Especially to a woman who has an excitement and zest for pharmacy, the medical field, and most importantly her future. Now, before i get on my high horse as to how horrible all of these words made me feel, I want to personally thank each and every professor and preceptor that mentioned them to me. If it were not for them, I truly do not think I would be half as confident as I am, half as zealous for taking action and helping patients, half as comfortable in my own skin or half as willing to share this message with you all. These words gave my future career in pharmacy so much more meaning. I want to prove to not only those around me but myself how much I truly and capable and how big of an impact I am able to make on society.

Alright, back to trash talking the peanut gallery...

After the first professor said it during my senior year of undergrad, it stung like 20 bee's all at once. My eyes filled up with tears and I began to question myself and all of my choices up to that point in time. Then I closely thought about why he would even be saying those words to me. I had a B in his classic (organic chemistry II, mind you) and was always giving it my all. Why would he, of all people be trying to demean me and my future endeavors? And then it hit me, it has to be jealousy. Turns out he applied for the same pharmacy school I had gotten into and NEVER GOT IN.

The next comment stung, but only equivalent to about one sting. It was more like a mosquito bite, just pestering me for DAYS after. I was in my carcinogenesis course in pharmacy school, giving a presentation on the BRCA genes (mutations that cause breast cancer). I had not even gotten to exclaim the title of my presentation when the comment on the appearance of my powerpoint was mentioned. The first legally blonde moment. The fact that I loved pink, was a true girly-girl, had blonde hair and was in a challenging career like pharmacy is what stemmed even the though of this comment. This time I was not afraid to mention it to my Dean and was formally apologized to. Now people will start to take me serious right? Wrong.

The next comment was during one of my summer intern rotations. This comment was unique because it was stated AFTER the fact and online as an evaluation. I was not going to ever see him again and it would be pointless to bring it up to a higher authority. Now my intelligence, favorite color and personality has been addressed. This one stung the LEAST. What is the image in your mind of a pharmacist? I have asked my boyfriend this question and he said before he met me he "pictured an old man in the back of a lab working quietly to himself making medications and serums". I am sure that is what most people imagine, at least the quiet, older male portion. I do not want to succumb to the norm. I want to bring fourth a new wave of medical professionals. Ones that have beauty, brains, personality and spunk.

Now we cannot forget the attire aspect of any professional career. Too short, too colorful, too see-through, too long, too baggy, too WHATEVER. When are we going to learn to accept people for who they are and not judge them for having a tattoo or looking differently than what is presumed on that television show. LET PEOPLE BE WHO THEY WANT TO BE. If not this world is about to be as beige as pumpkin pie.

Now this last comment, has to be my favorite. It is also the most recent, so I have grown quite a thick skin by now. But like a mosquito bite, continues to nag me. Being called dumb by ANYONE is crossing the line. And from a preceptor....it changes you, let me tell you. I am still in school, gathering the knowledge needed to become an independently working pharmacist. My clinicals are all learning experiences. No one is a genius at this point, nor are they expected to be. And when I have not even been given the opportunity to counsel patients or converse with other medical professionals....you have no RIGHT to comment on my intelligence. But do not worry. I advanced a compounded product and its success with one simple comment that BOTH of the pharmacists had never even thought of.

Now it is your turn!! Drop your stories down below :)

PS this photo is of a man that never ceases to be my biggest fan and supporter. I will love him until the end.