Division of Health Sciences
I
chose to study Pharmacy as it’s a mentally stimulating job that not only
earns great money, but also respect, self-value, and eternal pride from
the parents. There is never a job shortage in pharmacy, and there are
opportunities to pursue a huge number of related fields, whether local,
interstate or otherwise. While the hours can be lengthy, it’s not your
typical 9-5 office job; you are constantly interacting with people and
keeping your mind active.
What I liked about studying at UniSA was the dynamic environment.
Something is always new and changing. UniSA students pride themselves on
maintaining a great social scene amidst the expected hard work, and
dedicate themselves to both. I am a believer of success coming from a
healthy balance of work and play.
In every stage of life, we will meet people who change the way we think.
Sometimes these people will be figures of authority and teaching. In my
four years at UniSA, I have met some amazing UniSA staff members who –
and I am not alone is saying this – have greatly influenced the way 2008
Pharmacy Graduates will view the world of pharmacy. It is evident that
they have gone to great lengths to provide us with a range of
experiences that go beyond just lecture notes – these include guest
speakers from people of great position in society, placements,
workshops, to name a few. UniSA should be proud to have selected such a
fine assortment of teaching staff.
It is hard to break down an entire experience into a single highlight.
However, in my final few months at UniSA, I have already developed
nostalgia towards the people I have met here, who have created this
experience with me. These people are my peers, who together, we have
laughed our way through years of social events –pub crawls, glamorous
balls, respectable Pharmacy days where we represent an entire profession
– and cried on each others’ shoulders through many exam periods.
During the Pharmacy degree we were given from first to third year to
complete 200 hours worth of work experience. I completed mine at 2
different pharmacies during this time. Some time in 1st year, I
volunteered at the Pharmacy Progression Awareness Campaign. In 4th year,
we were able to select 2 placements from any field of pharmacy – I chose
a community pharmacy of a huge pharmacy group and a hospital placement,
both of which I enjoyed thoroughly. Most memorable, I think, would have
been NAPSA (National Australian Pharmacy Students’ Association) Congress
in January 2008, which combined academics and socialising with pharmacy
students across the country.
Every experience, whether compulsory or self-motivated, academic or
social, is valuable, even when it does not feel like it at the time. The
workplace is a whole different environment to the lecture theatre, and
“textbook knowledge” does not translate directly to “practical
knowledge”. I drew experience from all places I went to, and learnt more
and more about people of the workplace I will be entering, helping me to
learn the acceptable etiquette of such an environment. These experiences
have broadened my eyes to things I would not have otherwise known, and
instilled in me a different type of confidence that I could not gain
from reading a textbook. These skills come from personally experiencing
things.
As much as I have enjoyed my time at university, I have been
well-prepared and am positively itching to enter the workforce. I feel
that there is almost not enough time for all the things I want to do and
see; I want to start in community pharmacy, and maybe try hospital
pharmacy…I would one day like to work in a pharmacy interstate to see
how it differs (if at all).
Leaders in any field, including Pharmacy, draw on the same qualities of
a UniSA graduate. Aside from a solid knowledge base, it takes good
communication skills, confidence in applying one’s own skills and
knowledge to solve problems, the ability to work independently as well
as with others to support staff and the company, empathy and good work
ethic to become a role model for the company and the profession of
pharmacy, and never underestimate the power of great organisational and
management skills.
