I lost my mom in 2016 to ovarian cancer. I always thought of my mom as one of the strongest people I had ever known. There was no way that cancer was going to beat her. When the doctors said it had metastasized to her stomach lining, I knew there was not much hope. I was there in the hospital when she drew her last breath. Grandma and Grandpa had long left us for Heaven. She lost her husband the same year Grandpa died. Her brother and sister that were nearby refused to come. Only her best friend was with me. It was her coworkers there for her when her ashes were scattered. I wasn't married yet. She was not going to meet my future husband. She was not going to be there for my wedding day. She was not going to meet her only granddaughter. I met my husband just a couple of months after my mother lost her fight. I always wished she could have met him before she passed. We eloped after only knowing each other for 3 months. My mom's death was a shock to the system. Life is fragile and precious and we waste so much of it. Tomorrow is not promised. So we married knowing we would not receive the family's blessing and they would not understand the reasons. We have done a lot of things over the past 6 years that my family has not agreed with. Our philosophy is that life is short and we have to do us. When we look back, are we going to regret what we did or what we were too afraid to do? I had given up on doing anything more with my education figuring I was too old to go back to school. My mom again was my inspiration. She did what she loved and did not let things hold her back. She was a leader and a caring person. So I thought, why settle for being a technician when I can go further and become a pharmacist? I could be a part of the care team and help people live a good quality life. I knew it would be a long road. It has taken three years to go to school online at night just to finish the prerequisites. It will take another three years to graduate and become a Doctor of Pharmacy. My family has been my biggest support. I still talk to my mom and believe she is watching over me. I know she will be watching when I graduate. I want to inspire people. Life is short. Tomorrow is not promised. People are the most precious gift we have. Make the most of each day and never settle.

Nature is Epic! I live in South Lake Tahoe where it is beautiful all year long. I grew up in the Bay Area but could no longer take what they were doing our World; so many buildings and cars and so few trees and flowers. Who wants to go play in a park that is next to a freeway? Nature offers life and beauty. It offers an escape from the stuffy indoors and dependence on technology. We can fresh our weary souls and get a much needed dose of Vitamin D. In Tahoe, the winter brings snow and covers out town in a beautiful white blanket. In the summer, there are so many hiking trails and the Lake itself to visit. To appreciate nature means a couple things. One, you take the time to actually enjoy it. Two, you respect it and leave it the way or better than you found it. It saddens me when we visit the beach and the tourist have left their trash. We make sure we pick up after ourselves and others too. My favorite place in by the ocean. I love to swim and the sounds of the wave are comforting. Plus, my daughter and I love building towers in the sand. I hope to teach her to preserve nature for her children someday.

My family and the things in life we tend to take for granted. I love my husband and my daughter. She could be pushing every button, getting me upset. Then she will suddenly stop and give me a kiss. "I love you so much momma." she says. Melts my heart. She brightens even the hardest days. My husband makes me happy too. "I know you had a hard day at work, so I bought dinner and lets go upstairs and have a cuddle night." He is often very thoughtful and sweet. The other night we lost power and it was 17 degrees outside. I have never been so grateful for the three of us to cuddle up in bed together under lots of blankets. I believe those that are happiest in life are those that are grateful. We have so much to be thankful for. Happiness comes from appreciating the little things in life. Things come and go. I have never been materialistic. It is the people in my life and the moments I spend with them that make me happy.

We are not millionaires by any stretch of the imagination. Like most people, it takes careful budgeting just to have a little in savings at the end of the month. However, I realized as we were complaining that we were without heat for a day that we really do have first world problems. Many people live without heat or electricity or enough food to eat. Here in our town, there are many homeless that spend freezing nights in the cold. We are grateful with every warm shower, meal, and every night spent with a roof over our heads. This is the very reason why we believe that giving is important. We have so much. It is important to be grateful for what we do have and instill this attitude in my child. Giving is a way to show a grateful attitude. Several times a year, we make bags for the homeless that contain items like shampoo, a hat for the cold, nonperishable food items, and other toiletries. Whenever we see someone who is hungry, we try to buy them a meal. Sometimes, we will put them up in a hotel for a little while. I wish we could do more. Someday, we I finish school, we will have more resources to help those in need. For now, we do what we can to make the world a little brighter for those we can help.

Life is stressful. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and do things over again. Then I would not be trying to juggling being a wife, a mother, a full time employee and a student. Life gets pretty hectic sometimes. There is always the guilt that I am not doing enough for my family. My daughter is only three. "Momma play a me." she says constantly. "Momma in the park with me. No go to work today." "I am sorry sweetheart. Just a couple more days and momma will go to the park with you." So how do you unwind and make sure that you are your best to care for those that depend on you? It can be complicated. The truth is that you cannot help anyone if you are not taking care of yourself. To me, this means eating right and taking my vitamins. If I am physically healthy, then I can be present when I am needed. Sometimes it simply saying, "I am too tired to cook tonight, let's order out our favorite meal." It is ok to take a mental health day. Then you come back stronger and ready to tackle the challenges. Another way I practice self-care is listening to music. Music is a powerful tool to destress and lift mood. It also helps me focus on those late nights. Self-care means taking the time for myself and knowing that if I am at my best, everyone around me benefits.

Patience goes right along with love and kindness. I work with people every day at the pharmacy and many times it does require being patient as I try my best to assist them. Then, we have to be patient as we wait for the doctor to respond to requests. I have a three year old who is teaching me patience every day. "Mommy, sit a back with me." she tells me. I would rather sit in the front but she wants me. "Mommy play with me. No phone." Off I go. "I'm sorry mommy." she tells me as I'm cleaning up yet another mess, "I didn't mean to," My heart melts and I hug her. She needs me to be patient and show her I love her no matter how frustrated I may be. Many people in service industries get treated badly by people who just feel they are that important. They deserve to be treated with kindness. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has off days. If we can show love and patience to those around us, the world would be a much better place. There are so many people suffering from anxiety and depression. You never know if that person you come across is hurting. You could be the difference in someone's day if you just show a little patience and kindness.

My mom always says, "Melody is going to do what Melody wants to do." Sometimes I do not know how to take that statement. I wish it meant that she knows I can do anything I set my mind to. Unfortunately it is a critique when I have made a decision or do something that she does not agree with. My family has tried their best to control everything in my life. To be independent means the ability to make the best decision for yourself and your family. It worries me that people insist we are taking away their freedom and their right to make independent choices by asking them to wear a mask. Independence and freedom do not mean doing whatever you want, when you want and disregard the consequences. Independence means having the freedom to weigh all you options and make the decision that would be best for all those involved. Being independent also has a financial component. I want to be able to take care my family without depending upon anyway. This means working hard and setting goals. We do ok with my current position but one of the things becoming a Pharmacist will afford will be more financial freedom. Then I can take care of my immediate family and help others who are struggling. Being independent is like breathing fresh air after being stuck in a dank prison cell.

The song plays over and over again, "If I Die Young" by the Band Perry. My sister is writing her goodbye letters refusing to talk to us except to tell us to sue her doctors because her death will be their fault. We plead with her to let us get her help, that we love her and we do not want her to leave us. She finally listens and we take her to the hospital to begin another long round of evaluations and admittance into their mental health ward. She will be there for a couple weeks at least as they adjust her medication, have her talk to a psychiatrist and do group sessions. We visit her in the evenings so she knows we are supporting her. My sister has struggled with bipolar since she was 9 years old. I would often wonder what happens to people who do not have any support or help. There is so much about mental illness that people do not understand. It is not always a result of what has happened to you in your life. We had a good home growing up. So you cannot say that a nine years old her illness was the result of trauma or tragedy. It's not a matter of just get over it or toughen up. Sometimes no amount of prayer will fix a brain that is out of balance. I use these experiences to help those who come to the pharmacy. I study to try to understand the chemical receptors in our brain and how our brain works. I treat all our patients with compassion and understanding. Maybe having one person in their lives that cares about them will be make a difference. I try to help them manage their medications and check up on them. I know that when I become a pharmacist, I can play an even bigger role in their quality of life. I want to make a difference for our patients. Sometimes even if all I can offer is a smile and someone to listen to them.

"Naked Brooklyn mom tosses newborn, 2-year-old out window before jumping herself." Fox News "The pandemic has pushed children’s mental health and access to care to a ‘crisis point’" CNN News. Too often mental health still has a stigma about it and it is often pushed under the rug until something dramatic happens. I believe that those who are suffering from a mental health condition still continue to be an underserved community. Questions are often asked after the fact. "Why didn't anyone realize that person was needing help?" "Why didn't anyone do something?" Many people living with mental illness are lost in a very broken system. Too often they are ignored or there are not enough resources for them when they do seek help. My sister has bipolar disorder. There were many times that she was in a mental health crisis only to be pushed from one doctor to another or turned away at the hospital because their mental health ward was full. Well meaning but ignorant people would tell her to stop taking her medications because it was all in the head and she could will herself better. My role as a pharmacist will be an important part of their care team. At the pharmacy, I have seen technicians and pharmacist discriminate against and stigmatize these patients rather than showing them care and understanding. They need support and people who are willing to put in the extra effort to reach out to them. One of the issues that continues to happen is non-compliance. The pharmacist do not take the time to talk with the patients about their treatment. Many of these medications do not work right away. It takes a least 4 weeks for the patients to really see an effect. If they are not counseled, too often, they give up thinking that it is not working. Another reason for non-compliance can be the side effects. If no one takes the time to follow up with them and talk to them, they often also give up taking their medications. Pharmacists can work together with the doctors to follow up on treatment and recommend changes that may help. They can also be non-compliant simply because they forget to renew their medications. As a technician, I take the time to get to know my patients and look out for the ones I know have a hard time remembering which meds are due. It can make a big difference in their overall quality of life. That is my goal when I become a Pharmacist; to help all my patients have a better quality of life, especially our mental health patients. I fully believe that with care, understanding, and support, we can make a positive difference in their lives.

Its is scary to see someone act out in the midst of a manic episode. It is equally scary when they try to overdose or begin writing letters to say goodbye. My sister was diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder or also known as bipolar disorder at the young age of 9 years old. We did our best to love her through every episode. Sometimes, I was not so patient with her not understanding what she was going through. What was most frustrating was trying to find her help when she needed it. Often, the beds were full in the units that dealt with mental health crises. There were times we fought with her to take her medications during the times she said she did not need them anymore or insensitive people told her that it was all in her mind and she could make herself better. What we have learned is that the brain is a very complicated thing and there are many parts and neurotransmitters that help control our mood, our ability to think and use critical reasoning and when things do not function properly or the neurotransmitters are imbalanced it plays a big role in our mental health. Not only does our brain and chemical balance but what life can throw at us can play a big part in our mental health. In college, I had my own breakdown. I felt as if everything was out of my control. I was afraid of failure in school and my future career so I began to control the one thing I felt was entirely in my hands; my eating. I became anorexia and at one point weighed a mere 85 pounds. It did not help anything as I was put in the hospital and things were more out of my control than ever. I lost a good job and someone that could have been my future husband. I am doing much better now but I realized that we all struggle with times of depression, self doubt, and life at times for lack of a more sophisticated word can really suck. I have learned patience, compassion, and understanding. One of the major things you need in my role as a pharmacy technician is empathy. I want my patients to know that I will take care of them without the judgment they will often get. I have done many continuing education units on mental health get a better understand of the diseases and the drugs that are used to treat them. I am back in school now to further my career. I feel as a pharmacist I can offer counseling and support for those on these medications. I want to be a part of the care team that helps them. Sometimes my role is just to offer support and and someone to talk to for a moment. Having someone who cares and understand can make a big difference. I am and want to continue to be someone who makes a difference in patient's lives.

Its is scary to see someone act out in the midst of a manic episode. It is equally scary when they try to overdose or begin writing letters to say goodbye. My sister was diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder or also known as bipolar disorder at the young age of 9 years old. We did our best to love her through every episode. Sometimes, I was not so patient with her not understanding what she was going through. What was most frustrating was trying to find her help when she needed it. Often, the beds were full in the units that dealt with mental health crises. There were times we fought with her to take her medications during the times she said she did not need them anymore or insensitive people told her that it was all in her mind and she could make herself better. What we have learned is that the brain is a very complicated thing and there are many parts and neurotransmitters that help control our mood, our ability to think and use critical reasoning and when things do not function properly or the neurotransmitters are imbalanced it plays a big role in our mental health. Not only does our brain and chemical balance but what life can throw at us can play a big part in our mental health. In college, I had my own breakdown. I felt as if everything was out of my control. I was afraid of failure in school and my future career so I began to control the one thing I felt was entirely in my hands; my eating. I became anorexia and at one point weighed a mere 85 pounds. It did not help anything as I was put in the hospital and things were more out of my control than ever. I lost a good job and someone that could have been my future husband. I am doing much better now but I realized that we all struggle with times of depression, self doubt, and life at times for lack of a more sophisticated word can really suck. I have learned patience, compassion, and understanding. One of the major things you need in my role as a pharmacy technician is empathy. I want my patients to know that I will take care of them without the judgment they will often get. I have done many continuing education units on mental health get a better understand of the diseases and the drugs that are used to treat them. I am back in school now to further my career. I feel as a pharmacist I can offer counseling and support for those on these medications. I want to be a part of the care team that helps them. Sometimes my role is just to offer support and and someone to talk to for a moment. Having someone who cares and understand can make a big difference. I am and want to continue to be someone who makes a difference in patient's lives.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." Les Brown. I think about when I look at the clock glaring 1 am and I still have assignments to complete. It comes to mind when the alarm clock goes off at 7 am and I have to get up for work. I am in my forties and decided to go back to school. I kept thinking that college is something you do right after high school. I have a family. I have a full time job. My daughter is only 2. She still needs my attention when I am home. I had my time to pursue a different career or higher education. It is too late now. I am still young. I still have many years to spend in my career. Do I want to spend it in a career that is ok or can I do more? So I decided to go back to school to become a pharmacist. It will take 6 long years of hard work, sacrifice, and facing classes that I dreaded. I think about my daughter and the legacy I want to leave her. Never settle for less than what you can be. Never give up on your dreams. If it is truly something you want to accomplish in life, you will find a way to do it.

I am in my 40's and have a two year old little girl. I went back to school to finish my Pharmacy degree but financial aide only offers so much and we do not have much extra money in our budget. Taking 12 units is ok but I would love to be able to take 15 to 18 units a semester and complete my BS a little faster.

No matter the distance, there are people that stay close to your heart. I will always be daddy's little girl no matter how old I get. My dad is a quiet man. He does not express emotions very well. However, his deeds always spoke for him. I loved being my dad's helper. Any project, even if it was helping prime vaulted ceilings when I am scared of heights, I would still try my best for him. I remember he would take us with him to do the grocery shopping and he would teach me how to get the best value. This peanut butter is $3.00 for a 16 oz. jar but look the 36 oz. jar is $4.50. You get twice as much for only $1.50 more. So I learned to be a frugal shopper and he also taught me how to make a budget and keep track of all my expenses. The other thing I learned was the value of hard work. It was very rare my dad took a day off due to illness. A couple of years ago, he fell off a ladder at work and hurt his ribs. We asked him if he reported it at work. He said no. "I'm the safety captain and plus we are going for a safety record. How would that look if the safety captain was the one that messed up the record?" We just shook our heads. His days off we spent time doing projects or making the back and front yards nice. He has a green thumb and his garden always produced yummy tomatoes and zucchini, oranges, and other fruits and vegetables. The biggest lessons I have used in my every day life would be in finances and my work ethic. As a college student with a family, I have to keep track of every penny so that I can pay our bills, put food on the table, and pay for the college tuition and books. The other is his work ethic. You work hard at whatever it is that you need to get done. So when I am up at 2 in the morning trying to finish an assignment, I do not give up. I look over at my sleeping husband and daughter and know that I am doing this to provide a better life for my family. We never lacked anything we needed because my dad worked hard to provide for us. Now I do the same for my little family and someday I be able to encourage my daughter in her studies so her future will be bright as well.

You always think you have forever. Even when you hear that dread word Cancer, it never really hits home until you begin to see it eat away at that person's body. My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014. They said they could remove the ovaries and she would be fine. The doctor who performed the surgery said he was fairly confident he removed it all but she would have to undergo chemo to be sure. So we had hope. She was going to be fine. She was going to be around for many more years. I was not married yet. I did not have any children who would call her Grandma. Turns out that the cancer was smarter than the doctor. My mom fought hard refusing to accept the news that it had metastasized into the lining of her stomach. They tried more chemo but her medical team finally said there was nothing more they could do. She was pumping fluid from her stomach and could barely keep anything down. I was with her in the hospital the morning she slipped away. Even now, I am crying as I write. A couple of months later, I met someone. We eloped 2 months later. Life is short. Tomorrow is not promised. It might have been a rash decision from grief but four years later we are still together. We had a beautiful little girl a year after we married. I still think about my mom missing all the milestones. I believe she is watching over us. A long time ago I gave up on my dream of being in the medical field. I have learned that money does not matter. You can be just as happy with little as you can with much. Sometimes, I think we are happier because we try to live a simple life. I always ask myself, if I were to be diagnosed with cancer or my life somehow was stopped short, what would I regret most. Most of the time comes down to either spending time with my loved ones or doing something for them. I would regret not spending as much time or putting off something I could do to make their life better in the long run. So with the encouragement of my family, I have decided to go back to school and fight for that degree I gave up on. In the long run, I will be able to help more people and provide a better future for my family. It a struggle to deal with classes that once defeated me. It is hard to stay up to 1 or 2 in the morning finishing my assignments but I look over at my husband and daughter sleeping and keep going for them. I know my mom will be proud of me when I walk across the stage with that Pharm D. Somehow, I think she already is.

Life has not exactly become what I thought it would be. I thought I would marry in my twenties and become a college professor teaching English and raising a family. So much for that plan. I did not finish my planned education. I did not get married until the age of 39. I am in my forties and raising a 2 year old. She is a miracle and a blessing. We have tried to give our little one a brother or sister but so far it has not happened. About two years ago, my husband had an accident at work that left him unable to go return to work. This has been a mixed blessing. While he has had to endure pain and surgeries, he has also been able to stay home with our daughter. We decided that if he cannot work, then there has to be something I can do to make a better life for our family as I am now the main source of income. I work full time as a pharmacy technician but you can only go so far. It seemed like a crazy idea to go back to school. I am older. I have a husband and daughter to take care of. I cook in the morning breakfast and lunch, clean the house, and take care of my girl so dad can rest. This is after an eight hour day at work. When would I find time to pursue a degree? I already have a BA in English but for my dream of becoming a pharmacist, I would basically have to obtain a BS in biological sciences. My family is my world. I want to give my little one the best opportunities I can. I want all moms to know that anything is possible and it is never to late to chase after your dreams and give your family the life you want for them. Even if you do not have the support of a partner or face my challenge of a husband that is partially disabled, you can make it happen. In my case, this means putting my beautiful girl to bed around nine and heading straight for my computer. My little sweetheart pushes me. If she does not see me head for my desk, she tells me "Momma, go work." It is not easy studying until one in the morning only to get up at seven and put in another long day. It is discouraging to look at how much online school will cost and realize that financial aide is not going to be enough. I cried when I realized that somehow I have to come up with 10,000 dollars that is not covered on top of diapers and rent and a car payment and all the other expenses of life. However, I still believe that anything is possible if you truly want to make it happen. I had pretty much thought being a mom was never going to happen but my beautiful girl is asleep close by as I write this. This is just the beginning of a long road. Once I obtain my B.S., then I am going to pharmacy school for four more years. It is never to late. Too hard is only a mindset to overcome. Someday I look back and be proud of what I was able to accomplish. I am not going to let difficulties or financial problems stand in my way. To all the moms out there, do not give up. We got this.

I am sorry I cannot answer that question for you. Let me get the pharmacist. So many times I have wanted to help our patients but as a technician I am limited. I have gone back to school much later in life for so many reasons. I am now in my 40's and a wife and mother. Higher education is so important. Why would you want to just survive and barely make the bills in a job you really do not like. School is hard work. Trust me, working full time, taking care of my family and doing my school work after my daughter is in bed until 1 am is challenging. However, I gave up on my dreams once. I am not doing that again. This time I am determined. I will show my little one and others that it's never to late to pursue your passions. I want to be able to help our patients have a better quality of life and I want to do more than just barely pay the bills every month. Life is short. Give your all in whatever you are passionate about. For me, I find it fascinating to learn how our amazing bodies work and the things that can go wrong. I can help our patients understand how their medications work and how to improve their health. As a technician, I try to go above and beyond to care for each of our patients that come to us. Once upon a time, I let the difficulty of the classes stand in my way. It was much easier to give up and just find a job. I am no longer satisfied with ok. This is my encouragement to others who have a chance to start young. Find your passion and do not let anything stand in the way of achieving your dreams. With a college degree, there is a world of possibility waiting.