Denver Botanic Gardens

Now that my pharmacy board exam is behind me, it's back to exploring. It is a truly liberating feeling to be free of my long nights of studying after a full day of work. Most of my free time is spent at Cheesman Park. A bit of research led me to the learn about the history of my beloved park. To my surprise, it served as a cemetery in the 18th century, and as such, is now rumored to be haunted. Despite this eery realization, I enjoy taking leisurely strolls to the park to soak in the summer sun, read a book, and admire the musicians and yogis. I've also been enhancing my own yoga practice at various free classes around town, which serve an excellent addition to my weekly running clubs.

To my delight, I was able to take advantage of the free day at the nearby Denver Botanic Gardens. The 24-acre garden was more spectacular than I had imagined. Every type of tree, plant, and flower could be found there. A full day wouldn't be enough to discover every nook and cranny, every stream, and every bench that the park has to offer. It is the perfect place to bring your favorite camera or sketchbook.

 

As July already approaches, summer is in full swing in Denver. The sun rises by 5:30 am and doesn't set until 8:30 pm. The long days heat up to 90-100 degrees by mid-afternoon, though the dry heat allows for a much-needed relief in the shade. Quite often, a brief rain or hail storm unexpectedly rolls though, leaving behind no sign of its presence except for a subtle fragrance and coolness to the air.  The unpredictable weather enables dramatic climate changes all throughout town; blue skies in Chessman Park do not guarantee blue skies in LoDo!

Pharmacy Board Exam

Although part of me thought that it may never come, June inevitably arrived. Aside from the start of Summer, this realization also meant that it was time to finally take my pharmacy board exam. This two-part exam determined whether or not I would be granted a license to practice pharmacy--the pressure was on. So I shifted my priorities, cutting back my adventures in order to maximize my study time. It was stressful to prepare while still working 30+ hours a week, but I did my best.

First up was the pharmacy law exam--the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). This test includes material such as the number of times prescriptions for controlled substances (i.e., oxycodone) can be refilled, and which practitioners can describe which types of medications. Despite following the same federal laws, each state has their own set of specific laws. I am more familiar with PA laws from school and internship, so it was a challenge to teach myself the CO laws. The week of my exam, I attended mass at nearby St. John's Cathedral. To my surprise, I realized too late that it was an Episcopal Church. Still, it was an interesting service, where I learned of their current project to build 50 apartment homes for the local homeless population.



120 questions and two hours later, I had completed the computer-based MPJE with mixed feelings. Out of the two parts of the board exam, the MPJE is more commonly failed because students do not take it seriously. I impatiently awaited the results... two days later, I breathed a sigh of relief when my passing score was posted online.

One down, one to go. For the next two weeks, I continued studying for the second and final part of the board exam--the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). I felt more confident after learning of my success with the first part, and after reminding myself of the high national pass rate. With continued support from home, I put forth my best effort on test day. 185 and four hours later, I left the testing center feeling similar to how I did after taking the first part. Three agonizing days later, I was relieved to receive my passing score. After six long years of studying, I had finally completed my training to become a pharmacist!

Despite the excitement, I am still unsure what the profession of pharmacy holds in store for me. For now, I am content working "under the radar" at Whole Foods until I figure out what I want to do. I remain optimistic about spending a few years in the military, but I am also eager to stay in Denver for a while longer... after all, I just got here!