Neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin get me thinking about the limitless possibilities of Pharmacology. I have always been interested in medicine and its effects on the mind and body. There are so many opportunities to improve or save lives due to the advancements in pharmaceutical sciences. No medication is perfect and everything can be improved upon. I cannot wait to discover or improve compounds in order to benefit society.
In order to start a career in Pharmacology I must get a proper education. First, I must finish high school with an academic G.P.A. higher than 3.2. Upon the completion of high school, I need to apply to my college of choice which is California State University San Francisco. I will major in Pharmaceutical Sciences or Pre-Pharmacy to assure I am moving in the right direction towards my goal. I will need to complete my general education classes before even working towards my major. Once that's out of the way, I will have to take many chemistry classes accompanied by classes in Pharmacology and medicine.
It would be ideal to work as a pharmacy technician while attending school because I can earn money as well as furthering my knowledge in Pharmacy and medicine. I can also intern at a pharmaceutical company to gain experience. Right out of school, a pharmacologist can have a starting salary of $80,000-$160,000. I could work for a pharmaceutical company or at a university with a medical research facility. My duties would consist of pharmaceutical research, including researching and synthesizing new compounds. Some common drugs I would be researching are HIV and anti-cancer drugs.
At a family event I met the manager of a Savon pharmacy and was intrigued by meeting someone in the business. I asked him about his profession and if there was any information he could give me. He then offered to take me on a tour through one of his pharmacies. The next day, we met up at the Savon and began the tour.