Why I Chose Pharmacy: A Pharmacist’s Honest Career Journey

People always ask me why I chose to become a pharmacist. Honestly, I rarely give the full story.

Most of the time I just say, “Oh, this is my purpose,” or “I wanted to help people.”

And while that’s true, it doesn’t paint the full picture. Because let’s be real, every career is about serving and helping others in some way. So here’s the real run-down of why I chose pharmacy.

The Early Days

I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in healthcare. At first, I thought about being a doctor—but I quickly realized I didn’t want that level of responsibility.

Then I turned to nursing. That was also a no, because I hate blood and, well, the thought of wiping someone’s butt wasn’t for me. (Shoutout to the nurses though—y’all are amazing!)

For a while, I thought about being a veterinarian. Until I realized I couldn’t just get to work with cute little dogs all day.

So for a while I had no idea what I wanted to do. 

The Pharmacy Spark

It wasn't until my sophomore year of high school, when my mom and I were brainstorming careers

she asked:

“What about pharmacy?”

I thought back to when I was a freshman, watching our local pharmacist hand-deliver my great-grandpa’s medications every month. 

So I said, “Sure, I can do that.”

Like a lot of people, I thought pharmacists just filled medications, but I was wrong.

My First Steps

After that conversation, I tried to take a pharmacy technician class in high school that would’ve made me a licensed tech. I got denied, and for a while, I thought maybe pharmacy wasn’t for me.

But the idea kept coming back. Multiple experiences throughout high school nudged me toward it, so I decided to give it a real shot.

After graduation, I applied for my pharmacy trainee license while studying to become a certified pharmacy technician.

The Moment I Knew

Freshman year of college, I started my first job as a technician trainee. And let me tell you—my first day was chaos. 

I didn’t know what I was doing (they basically threw me in), but I figured it out.

Here’s the wild part: even though the day was hectic, I wasn’t stressed. I wasn’t overwhelmed. I had this unexplainable joy the whole time. That’s when I knew pharmacy was for me.

From Then to Now

From there, I kept going:

• Trainee → Certified technician (passed on my second attempt).

• Certified technician → Pharmacy intern.

• Pharmacy intern → Pharmacist.

Every step, my “why” pulled me forward.

The Big Picture

My journey to pharmacy has always been about purpose. I truly believe this is what I was meant to do. And honestly, that “why” is what carried me through my toughest battles on this journey.

That’s why I encourage you to hold on tight to your reason why. Because when things get hard (and they will), your “why” will be the light that pushes you through to the end.

Let's Talk About It

💬 What’s your “why” for pharmacy school? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear it.