In life, we often find ourselves at crossroads, torn between our desires and a higher calling. This is the story of my journey as a pharmacist, navigating the delicate balance between my passion for healthcare and an inner conflict with traditional medication-based treatments. Along the way, I learned to trust in God and embrace uncertainty, leading me to make a life-altering decision with nothing but faith as my guide.
The Call to Pharmacy: Throughout high school, the perennial question of our career and life goals haunted me, as I found myself without a clear answer. During those years, I had a job at a small independent pharmacy as a clerk, but the idea of becoming a pharmacist never crossed my mind; I perceived it as a dull and unexciting profession. Upon starting college, I declared my major as behavioral health as I intended to work towards becoming a neuropsychologist or something akin to it, no real reasoning behind this decision, just picked it out of thin air. However, my first semester brought an unsettling realization that I was on the wrong track, it was evident that psychology wasn't my calling. Simultaneously, I felt that I was being called to become a pharmacist (though I didn't realize then that it was God's intervention). Accepting these intuitions, I changed my major to chemistry and started on my journey towards pharmacy school.
I had a desire to be an integral part of the healthcare system, well, I wanted to know all about health and wellbeing and be able to serve others. Despite feeling called to pharmacy, I just was not a pill mentality type; I could not get aligned with the conventional approach to "healing" through medications. This disconnect puzzled me, yet I still felt convicted to pursue pharmacy.
I should mention that I went to undergrad at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. If you are not familiar with this school, it is a small school, tucked into the redwoods on the northern coast of California, and it was known at the time as a hippie, pot smoking school. Being immersed in that environment, I found myself intrigued by alternative medicine. Despite tailoring my major to be sure that I fit in all of the pharmacy school pre-requisites, I found myself looking for an alternative medicine school option. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an alternative medicine school that seemed right to me, and of course there's that whole part that God wanted me to go to pharmacy school. With God's guidance, I went to pharmacy school at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center while it was still located in Denver, Colorado, and graduated in 2006. It was quite a different scene than HSU in Arcata, to say the least, but I made some amazing friends and got a great education.
Conversations with God: I struggled to understand why I was led to pharmacy; I yearned for clarity or even better, an email from God outlining His plan. Alas, no emails came, leaving me to rely on faith alone. I accepted that God wanted me to be a pharmacist, and at times I even enjoyed my career and times that I could see why God had put me in pharmacy.
With fifteen years of experience as a pharmacist under my belt, a new message arrived: it was time to move on. I was on the thirty-year plan to pay off my student loans, and yes, I was only halfway through that payment plan. The thought of leaving my stable career, with financial responsibilities and no backup plan, filled me with uncertainty and fear, serious, serious fear. Once again, I was questioning God's plan for me, I did everything I could to postpone His plan. Nevertheless, the dreadful day finally arrived when I could no longer ignore the call for change. I faced the difficult choice of leaving my job without a parachute, without any concrete plans for the future. It was a leap of faith, more like a shove really. I drove home crying, filled with a crazy mix of utter fear and overwhelming thankfulness. As I reflect on my journey into and out of pharmacy, I see the threads of divine guidance woven throughout my life. I may not have understood the reasons behind my choices at the time, but in retrospect, I can see how each step served a purpose in shaping me into who I am today.
Next Chapter: Here's where I tell you that everything has been coming up roses since that day, but I cannot say that. It has been a challenge. I have been without a steady paycheck for almost two years now, but thankfully I have a wonderful husband who is supporting the family during this time. Despite having spent the first few months going through mental breakdowns nearly every day, and having my mind be filled with all sorts of financial worries, I am still grateful to God. I have been able to homeschool my children, been able to take the time to learn herbalism at my own pace and been able to be more involved in our church. God has not promised me an easy path, in fact, He has made it clear that my path is to involve lots of bumps and struggles, #notfullythrilledwiththat
Nonetheless, I am able to get up and start every day with a smile, because I know that I am a child of God. Embracing the unknown, trusting in God, and being open to change have been invaluable lessons. And as I walk this path, I find comfort in knowing that while I may not have all the answers, or no answers at all, I have faith that I am where I am meant to be.
I am deeply passionate about serving my community, particularly in the realm of health and wellness. It is this passion combined with my interest in alternative/natural medicine from my distant past (we're talking back to the early 2000s) that lead me to start studying herbalism when I left my career. At the same time, I see a clear need in the community for health support, guidance, and education especially in the arena of polypharmacy. Let's face the truth: polypharmacy is an ever-growing concern, and it's becoming more problematic with each passing day. Additionally, we must acknowledge that prescription medications are not harmless. Polypharmacy is commonly defined as the utilization of five or more medications. It encompasses more than just the quantity of drugs taken; it involves the usage of medications without a specific indication, duplication of medications, or the continued us of ineffective medications. So basically, polypharmacy involves the use of multiple medications that are unnecessary and possess the potential to be more harmful than beneficial. And here is where I come in, this is where my two seemingly distinct paths converge.
With a background in pharmacy and a newfound understanding of herbalism, I am perfectly equipped to make a profound difference. My long-standing reluctance to conform to the standard pill mindset positions me to tackle the issue of polypharmacy head-on, providing a holistic approach to health and wellness. I am ready to challenge the status quo by being willing to deprescribe and capable of proper tapering medications, while offering a wealth of alternative options to promote overall well-being and decrease reliance on excessive medications.
As a guide towards personalized and balanced healthcare solutions, I am committed to empowering individuals in my community through education, counseling, and unwavering support. By being equipped with knowledge and understanding, you can confidently make informed decisions about your health and wellness.
I wholeheartedly believe that God has brought me to this juncture. While uncertainties may lie ahead, I am propelled by my faith and a genuine desire to create a positive impact in the lives of those around me. Embracing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, I am dedicated to serving my community with honest compassion.
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