Becoming a pharmacist has long been my goal in life. I was born in another country and was institutionalized at age three when my biological father died and my mother abandoned me. I was adopted at age eight and came to this country when I was nine, had to learn a new language and adjust to a new culture and environment, deal with bullying in school, in addition to overcoming serious learning and behavioral problems. I have succeeded in turning the issues that all this baggage had accumulated in me into strengths that I can use to remain focused on my career and personal objectives and achievements. My goal is to ultimately either own a pharmacy myself or run one in a large hospital and the PharmD degree is indispensable in order to achieve this. I have worked very hard to overcome personal handicaps and have managed to study and work at the same time so as not to burden my parents and myself with huge educational loans. This has taught me to be persistent, disciplined, focused, and to turn potential defeat into increasing success. I no longer need to be medication, I no longer need therapy. With the support of my adopted parents, I have learned not to look to the past for excuses, but to look to the future for challenges that I can overcome. I am ready now to go on to the next stage on my chosen life path.