Higher Learning

On this chilly December night, I find myself witnessing the beginning of what will be the rest of my life. While all of my classmates are away at ASHP’s Midyear Clinical Meeting seeking their prospective futures, I sit here watching my DVR television. While they are rushing to finalize their residency applications, brush up on new clinical news updates, and putting on their best smiles while meeting their potential future employers, I have been going to the gym, catching up with old friends, and enjoying my free time. Why you might ask?

Well, as most of my friends know, I have already officially signed my life away to Target Corporation as a pharmacist for the West Los Angeles area, following graduation and licensure next summer. They made me an offer that seemed too promising to refuse at this point. Yes, despite my love, pride, and appreciation for the Bay Area, it looks like Matty Matt will still remain in SoCal after eight years. During that time, I have lived in the armpit of Riverside, the beaches of Orange County, and boroughs of East Los Angeles. Since there is really no immediate reason for me to leave the region which I have called home my entire adult life, where I have built my network of close friends, loved ones, and working professionals, I have decided to stay and see what life is like on the west side.

But why Target? Why community pharmacy? Well, being that it’s been my primary experience and comfort zone the last 4 years, why not? I was definitely open to the countless options this profession has had to offer since being bombarded with information as a first year, but for one reason or another, the signs kept pointing me away from it. I did not get the intern job I applied for at a hospital my first year, so that in itself limited me from that scope of practice. Although it was cool working in an office environment at my Managed Care rotation, the type of work was not attractive to me: long-term projects involving lots of reading, interrupted by meeting after meeting = taking work home. My next best experience was Ambulatory Care, but I didn’t enjoy it enough to pursue a residency…and the type of work definitely didn’t seem like it was worth all of the work (and pay cut) during that extra year.

So that is why I chose to stick with the type of job that I have been comfortable with my entire working career: “slaving away” for an entire shift, but putting it all behind you once you clock out. Some days can be a nightmare, but others are some of the most rewarding experiences I have ever witnessed. Being the type of person I am, there is no better feeling than making a connection with another human being through day-to-day small talk. The feeling is heightened  even more so when the person on other side of the counter shows their gratitude and appreciation for your service. I especially get this feeling at Target pharmacies than I have in my past experiences at CVS and such. Doing all of this and getting paid pretty good money for it is why I chose to pursue pharmacy. And with how advanced the profession is getting where pharmacists are getting more and more non-traditional roles, I am happy to find that this traditional pharmacist is still in demand.

So when I tell my preceptors, recent grads, and classmates my decision, they often question it. Or actually, they don’t question it, but they often mutter expressions resembling an “oh…” as if there is a negative connotation associated with being a community pharmacist. Why aren’t I pursuing a higher discipline of learning? Why don’t I want to “do more” for the profession? Why don’t I want to give the profession a better perception by pursuing non-traditional roles?

Well, quite frankly, I want to get my life started. I’ve had a ton of other interests that I’ve had to put on hold because of pharmacy school. I’m the only one of my close friends who went to grad school and in the health profession. I look forward to when my work day ends so I can go see what the rest of the world has to offer. It is through this reflection where I realize that some people focus too much on having a meaningful career when they should probably focus on having a meaningful life. Namely, one that doesn’t involve much work. And although these residencies and fellowships are often only one extra year of 60-hour weeks with one-third the pay of what a normal pharmacist makes, there will still always be higher learning available. There will always be bigger opportunities requiring lots of investing that will be attractive. But at some point, the time will come where you need to draw the line and start living your life. And for me, that time, has come.

So it is here where I propose a toast: To those who find joy and passion in the opportunities they pursue. To those who have taught and motivated us to have an open mind and consider all possible options. To those like my classmates who want to change the world and shape the way our profession is moving because, hey, I couldn’t do it. And to people like me, who may not be good at much, but are comfortable with what they are good at and having the security to continue doing so.

Cheers.

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