A few days ago I was talking with my fiancee and it came to our attention that I have achieved my little part of the American Dream, achieving your goals from the bottom up. I used to think, like
Hoosier said before, that people who come from wealth have it easier. You know what, they do! of course it is easier when your mom and dad are both pharmacists and you want to become a pharmacist. You have help, money, and connections. In most cases, not ALL, but most, of which I have friends that are well off and agree: You don't have to worry about where your next meal is going to come from. You don't have to struggle to pay for college and books. You may not even have to work, and if you do, it is certainly not to pay the rent. Then let's talk about the connections of having parent(s) that are pharmacists, know the drill, can help with planning pre-requisites, the PCAT, figuring out where you can obtain experience, and what is best to have on your application. If they are an alumni, this is also a bonus. Let's be honest, wealth breeds wealth. That is just they way it is, no need to blame. Most of our presidents and elite figures come from the same ten families with wealthy backgrounds. Of course life could be handed to you on a silver platter OR you could work your booty off for it!
I did not come from a rich family, in fact we lived moderately. There are no PharmD.s, MD's, or Ph.D's. in my family. My brother is still in debt from his student loans to afford college 8 years ago. I did not have everything growing up, especially my parent's support. My brother helped me along. I still graduated second in my class and was accepted to a Top university in New Orleans. All my college plans seemed perfect until I spent my freshman move-in weekend fleeing from Hurricane Katrina. I had to find another school and make other plans.
My dad walked out on our family during this period, and my parents divorced my freshman year of college. My mom does not talk to me because I have my dad's last name ( I know, she gave it to me, but that's my mom for you), and my dad got a crazy new wife so he decided to move across the state. What can you do? At the present time, I don't really have any "parents" so to speak. My brother and fiancee are my family. In between all this, my dad was hospitalized, my fiancee had health issues, and I was bitten by a venomous snake.
My fiancee and I moved in together my sophomore year, and we both work full-time to support ourselves. Living on your own is not easy and those who have done it know. But, you know what, I am stronger because of it. We pay for our books and whatever scholarships do not cover, but paycheck to paycheck living is rough. It's all worth it for the memories and strength I have gained.
It's... sitting by a candle to read because the lights go turned off
....going to Amscot to get a payday advance when you don't quite have enough for the rent
...eating ramen or pb&j 3 times a day for a week
...going to Sav-A-Lot with 10 dollars (in quarters) to see what you can get
It's understanding what it's like to struggle and the satisfaction of truly making it. You know, there are plenty of times I could have given up. BUT, I didn't. I think everyone has hard struggles in their lives and it is easy to blame someone else. It is easy to say, well they had more money so they did not have to struggle pay PharmCas fees, while scraping up all that you have. It is easy to say, "their parents were doctors." It's easy to say the admissions process was unfair. It's easy to say I couldn't study because I had to work. It's not easy to say, that is all true, but I am going to rise above and work harder.
And you know what, this is my DREAM. Dream is not a word to be used lightly. This is many of our dreams. I have been working to get into pharmacy school since I started school in general. This is what I want, so I will make all the sacrifices I have to in order to get in. This is what we ALL have to do. No matter your background, it can be achieved. You may have to work harder than the next person, but it's possible, AND I MUST ADD SO MUCH MORE WORTH IT! If you are truly passionate about something, you will scrape the money and eat some pb&j because this is who you are, not just what you want to do. I'll agree that it's unfair at times, but there is no point in saying it was easier for someone else. On the surface that may seem true, but that person who had such "low numbers" and got in, may have an amazing quality to bring to the table that you don't know about. Everything happens for a reason! What you also don't know is that the person who had it easier likely has no idea what it's like to be on the other side.
"You cannot change the cards you are dealt, only how you play the hand."
The character and strength of you being the person who has to overcome the struggles, will make that acceptance letter so much sweeter.
I am actually in a place I was not sure I would be, as in March I had zero acceptances and only one interview. I can definitely thank God that I was accepted to two schools and I have an interview on Thursday at my number 1 choice. The road is not meant to be easy, or everyone would travel it. It's the twists and turns, the triumphs and tribulations, the joy and the hurt, that make the experience. Life has tests, that prove to you and others how much you really want it. After all is said, I would not trade my Ramen nights that made the indelible bond between my fiancee and I or the seemingly endless nights of studying for anything. I worked to build myself from humble roots to entrance in a PharmD. program, and I was absolutely ecstatic and accomplished when I read that first acceptance letter. There are few things in life from which you can gain satisfaction, but working hard through the obstacles (no matter what they are) to achieve your dream is 100% one of them!
Best of luck to everyone!
God Bless!
Please no mean messages or flaming. This is not meant to say my life was any harder than anyone elses or to sympathize or anything like that, just to share a message from the heart and give a little insight on the topic. Thanks!
