*See if your college library carries the book and check it out if you can.
*Find out if your college library has Interlibrary Loan which would allow you to borrow the book from other libraries that may have the book and your school associates with (takes some planning ahead)
*Explore the the local community library and check out the book there if they have it.
*See if google has an online copy of the book available to read
*Become friends with upperclassman and see if you can borrow their book, barter for the books, trade for books they might need, or pay them a discounted price.
*See if your school has an online book swap/discount sale between students (most schools have something like half.com set up for just their school...ask around if you do not know)
*Get a half.com account and surf for competitive deals on the book you need.
*Look on craigslist for deals on books you may be using
*Share books with friends (this is really hard when you both need to read/do an assignment at the same time and coordinating schedules is difficult...but doable)
*Photocopy a friend or classmate's book (very tedious)
*Check out other online book stores for a better deal
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Pharmacy Faculty Really Care
This past semester my pharmacy peers and I were guinea pigs for a new teaching format called TBL (team based learning). TBL requires more independent learning and peer teaching through weekly quizzes and group case discussions. The new format leaves the student more accountable for their own learning and the information to be taught.
Change is really hard for anyone, especially an entire class of pharmacy students who have been learning the same way for years. For the past four years we have all been used to lectures, powerpoints, and assignments so transitioning to TBL was no easy task. The premise of TBL teaching seemed great but the entire class encountered many bumps, hiccups, and stings throughout the semester with the new style. The bad experiences gave many people a negative sense of TBL and that feeling was only worsened when the professors said we would be using this style of learning throughout the next few years in school.
At the end of the semester the faculty realized the tension and passion that this learning approach brought out in the students. They were willing to admit that the semester was not perfect and wanted useful but not cruel evaluations from students. To their credit they wanted to get feedback from the students. The faculty felt so strongly about getting input that they went as far as hiring an individual from outside of the college to sit with a few students in a forum setting and engage in a constructive discussion about the changes in education format.
I was apart of that forum this evening. It went really well. None of the students immaturely bashed TBL but all of them gave honest feedback. It was a great experience to be apart of and hear students speak up about something they are passionate about...which is their learning. The Drake College of Pharmacy faculty deserve a big pat on the back for allowing the students to provide input, knowing it may not be all that they want to hear. They went out of their way to provide a safe and private atmosphere for opinions to be voiced.
This sounds cheesy, but....I am proud to be a Drake Pharmacy student because I know that I am graduating from a school with top notch professors that are truly teaching me to become the best professional and person that I can be.
Change is really hard for anyone, especially an entire class of pharmacy students who have been learning the same way for years. For the past four years we have all been used to lectures, powerpoints, and assignments so transitioning to TBL was no easy task. The premise of TBL teaching seemed great but the entire class encountered many bumps, hiccups, and stings throughout the semester with the new style. The bad experiences gave many people a negative sense of TBL and that feeling was only worsened when the professors said we would be using this style of learning throughout the next few years in school.
At the end of the semester the faculty realized the tension and passion that this learning approach brought out in the students. They were willing to admit that the semester was not perfect and wanted useful but not cruel evaluations from students. To their credit they wanted to get feedback from the students. The faculty felt so strongly about getting input that they went as far as hiring an individual from outside of the college to sit with a few students in a forum setting and engage in a constructive discussion about the changes in education format.
I was apart of that forum this evening. It went really well. None of the students immaturely bashed TBL but all of them gave honest feedback. It was a great experience to be apart of and hear students speak up about something they are passionate about...which is their learning. The Drake College of Pharmacy faculty deserve a big pat on the back for allowing the students to provide input, knowing it may not be all that they want to hear. They went out of their way to provide a safe and private atmosphere for opinions to be voiced.
This sounds cheesy, but....I am proud to be a Drake Pharmacy student because I know that I am graduating from a school with top notch professors that are truly teaching me to become the best professional and person that I can be.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Why Business Is Not As Easy As it Seems
If you own stock or have ownership interest in a company you hope for the best return on your investment.
If you are an employee you want to get paid the most that you can and get the best benefits package available.
If you are the customer you want the best product/service at the lowest price.
If you are society you want the company to provide goods/services with the best interests of all humans, animals, and environments.
If you are an employee you want to get paid the most that you can and get the best benefits package available.
If you are the customer you want the best product/service at the lowest price.
If you are society you want the company to provide goods/services with the best interests of all humans, animals, and environments.
So if you are the manager who do you satisfy while remaining ethical?
Not always as easy as people may think.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Teaching Senators and Legislators
I was somewhat disappointed when I had not received the pharmaceutical research internship position in Massachusetts that I was excited about. I was however offered a different pharmacy management internship in Des Moines and accepted. Since the management position was not my first choice, I found myself not very excited about the summer.
I am a firm believer in the idea that if you think something hard enough that is what will play out. For example, if you truly believe you can achieve something you will make it happen. For this reason, I was upset that I was setting myself up for failure by retaining such negative thoughts about the internship that I accepted. As the starting date neared I wanted to change my negative thoughts and images into positive ones so that I could psych myself up and give myself a fighting chance of having a phenomenal experience through the internship. I started contact with my to be supervisor to learn more about what I was doing in which I began to gain interest and ideas of what I wanted to get out the next few weeks of work. I also learned about some great learning opportunities that I could take advantage of while interning for the company. By the time the day came for me to start, I had made almost a 180 degree turnaround in attitude. I was excited, had a wealth of ideas, set some goals, was eager to learn and realized the fun I might have.
That was a week ago. So far after the first week, I think I made a GREAT decision by choosing this internship. No day has been the same (I enjoy variety) and each one filled with a tremendous amount of learning and doing!
One of the more exciting afternoons included a meeting with some Iowa senators, legislators and pharmacy lobbyists. I accompanied the individuals through a pharmacy tour where they were introduced to the 'art' of pharmacy that is most likely much different then what they assume from their regular visits to their local pharmacies. We discussed how innovations, policies, and laws were influencing the profession of pharmacy in an effort to gain their support when debating bills on capital hill. It was great to explain my views on issues within the health profession in hopes that they may take into consideration the best interests of their future voting constituency. The whole event was conducted in order to teach our influential representatives about the changing world of pharmacy and the amounting concerns pharmacists face with the evolving health care system.
I never thought that the district management dealt with these issues but am pleased that they do because I was able to get a taste of practice. I am pleased with my first week and am looking forward the rest of the summer with enthusiasm and a desire to find out if this is a possible direction that I may consider for my career.
I am a firm believer in the idea that if you think something hard enough that is what will play out. For example, if you truly believe you can achieve something you will make it happen. For this reason, I was upset that I was setting myself up for failure by retaining such negative thoughts about the internship that I accepted. As the starting date neared I wanted to change my negative thoughts and images into positive ones so that I could psych myself up and give myself a fighting chance of having a phenomenal experience through the internship. I started contact with my to be supervisor to learn more about what I was doing in which I began to gain interest and ideas of what I wanted to get out the next few weeks of work. I also learned about some great learning opportunities that I could take advantage of while interning for the company. By the time the day came for me to start, I had made almost a 180 degree turnaround in attitude. I was excited, had a wealth of ideas, set some goals, was eager to learn and realized the fun I might have.
That was a week ago. So far after the first week, I think I made a GREAT decision by choosing this internship. No day has been the same (I enjoy variety) and each one filled with a tremendous amount of learning and doing!
One of the more exciting afternoons included a meeting with some Iowa senators, legislators and pharmacy lobbyists. I accompanied the individuals through a pharmacy tour where they were introduced to the 'art' of pharmacy that is most likely much different then what they assume from their regular visits to their local pharmacies. We discussed how innovations, policies, and laws were influencing the profession of pharmacy in an effort to gain their support when debating bills on capital hill. It was great to explain my views on issues within the health profession in hopes that they may take into consideration the best interests of their future voting constituency. The whole event was conducted in order to teach our influential representatives about the changing world of pharmacy and the amounting concerns pharmacists face with the evolving health care system.
I never thought that the district management dealt with these issues but am pleased that they do because I was able to get a taste of practice. I am pleased with my first week and am looking forward the rest of the summer with enthusiasm and a desire to find out if this is a possible direction that I may consider for my career.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Why Does Change Scare So Many People?
Change is never easy. I admit that change is never easy for me or always my first choice; however I have come to learn that change happens in life. If you do not accept the constant change evolution brings or try to adapt to it you will only become a bitter and lonely person always looking to the past for happiness but never finding fulfillment. Some say change is not good because it messes up what is going well while others say change is great because it brings variety to life. No one can say for sure whether change will be good or bad (unless they have a crystal ball).
Change will happen no matter if people are angry, excited, inviting or against it. Change is the only thing that has allowed evolution to work. So the most important thing about change, is the reaction to it. People can either accept or reject the change. The reaction should be based on knowledge and feeling so that an intuitive yet educated decision can be made. Going by education alone is nonhuman while going by feeling alone is illogical.
I bring this topic up because there has been a lot of debate about minor changes to a committee I am on. Some people do not want to change because they see it as an encroachment on their tradition. These people have been doing things the same way for many years. Others see no problem with the change as it may be bring in new experiences. So who is right?
I think the only way people will know if the change will be good or bad is to try it out. If the change is no good then change back to what was being done. If the change is good then keep with it. People will never know unless they try it. It is like trying spinach for the first time. Some people love it and keep eating it and some people hate it and never eat it again. These may be some extreme examples but think about what would have happened if instead of formulating intuitive yet educated reactions, if people would have rejected change before even starting.
Giving equal rights to people of all races
Giving equal rights to all genders
Increasing the legal drinking age
Accepting that the world is round
Seeking cleaner sources of energy
People cannot be afraid of change, instead they must learn how to handle it/react to it properly. If everyone would have have been scared of the above changes or reacted negatively would the world be better off?
What is the worst thing that change can bring? If change happens and it is not as good, we can change again to make it better. If change happens and it goes well, then we are all better off.
Change will happen no matter if people are angry, excited, inviting or against it. Change is the only thing that has allowed evolution to work. So the most important thing about change, is the reaction to it. People can either accept or reject the change. The reaction should be based on knowledge and feeling so that an intuitive yet educated decision can be made. Going by education alone is nonhuman while going by feeling alone is illogical.
I bring this topic up because there has been a lot of debate about minor changes to a committee I am on. Some people do not want to change because they see it as an encroachment on their tradition. These people have been doing things the same way for many years. Others see no problem with the change as it may be bring in new experiences. So who is right?
I think the only way people will know if the change will be good or bad is to try it out. If the change is no good then change back to what was being done. If the change is good then keep with it. People will never know unless they try it. It is like trying spinach for the first time. Some people love it and keep eating it and some people hate it and never eat it again. These may be some extreme examples but think about what would have happened if instead of formulating intuitive yet educated reactions, if people would have rejected change before even starting.
Giving equal rights to people of all races
Giving equal rights to all genders
Increasing the legal drinking age
Accepting that the world is round
Seeking cleaner sources of energy
People cannot be afraid of change, instead they must learn how to handle it/react to it properly. If everyone would have have been scared of the above changes or reacted negatively would the world be better off?
What is the worst thing that change can bring? If change happens and it is not as good, we can change again to make it better. If change happens and it goes well, then we are all better off.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
How I Was Raised
I decided to visit home for the short time I had between visiting my new niece and going back to Des Moines to start my summer internship. While at home I realized how thankful I am for my parents and how I was brought up!
The way a kid is brought up determines the values, respect, attitudes, and characteristics that they possess throughout life. Too bad there is no owner's manual or no one perfect way on how to bring up kids. I attribute many of my strengths and understandings to the lessons I learned as my parents raised me. Some lifelong lessons, some funny skills. No matter what, I am happy I have had experience with a lot including (but not limited to)...
Speaking three languages
Hand-washing dishes till the age of 13 (only after a dishwasher was given to the family as a gift)
Checking my own oil, wiper fluid and tire pressure
Mowing the lawn (as my dad competed with the neighbor for the best lawn)
Shoveling the driveway/pavement each winter until 17 (we finally got a snowblower as a gift)
Cleaning gutters
Chopping down 30 foot trees
French Braiding Hair
Putting up, drilling, sanding, and painting drywall
Fending for myself
Washing and ironing my own clothes
Sewing and patching my own clothes
Cooking and baking (especially Polish food)
Saving and being financially responsible
Learning that "there is no such thing as a free lunch"
Appreciating all that I have and have been blessed with
Strong faith base
Offering assistance and all that I can to those in need
Driving (only used cars)
Blueberry picking for over 18 years
Remembering that family will always be there for me
Learning how to smoke sausage
Tiling and grouting
Riding the bus, "L", train, plane and other transportation alone without intimidation or fear
Trying new foods, experiences, etc. at least once before dismissing them
Peeing behind bushes near the highway
Taking pleasure in the small treasures in life
Pushing cars
Sending letters and thank you notes
Sharing a bedroom
Playing piano, clarinet, the recorder and the accordion
Buying and replacing windows that I broke
Washing out sewer drains
Enjoying cross country family road trips
AND SO MUCH MORE!
I asked so many questions as a child I am surprised my parents did not duck tape my mouth. The problem is... I still ask a lot of questions...what can I do, I am just curious?
My parents continue to influence my life all the time. For example, my mom explained how to start my own vegetable garden for a porch and as my parents were remodeling their bathroom over the week I learned what and "L" wrench was as well as how to reinstall new fictures. Thanks Mom and Dad!
The way a kid is brought up determines the values, respect, attitudes, and characteristics that they possess throughout life. Too bad there is no owner's manual or no one perfect way on how to bring up kids. I attribute many of my strengths and understandings to the lessons I learned as my parents raised me. Some lifelong lessons, some funny skills. No matter what, I am happy I have had experience with a lot including (but not limited to)...
Speaking three languages
Hand-washing dishes till the age of 13 (only after a dishwasher was given to the family as a gift)
Checking my own oil, wiper fluid and tire pressure
Mowing the lawn (as my dad competed with the neighbor for the best lawn)
Shoveling the driveway/pavement each winter until 17 (we finally got a snowblower as a gift)
Cleaning gutters
Chopping down 30 foot trees
French Braiding Hair
Putting up, drilling, sanding, and painting drywall
Fending for myself
Washing and ironing my own clothes
Sewing and patching my own clothes
Cooking and baking (especially Polish food)
Saving and being financially responsible
Learning that "there is no such thing as a free lunch"
Appreciating all that I have and have been blessed with
Strong faith base
Offering assistance and all that I can to those in need
Driving (only used cars)
Blueberry picking for over 18 years
Remembering that family will always be there for me
Learning how to smoke sausage
Tiling and grouting
Riding the bus, "L", train, plane and other transportation alone without intimidation or fear
Trying new foods, experiences, etc. at least once before dismissing them
Peeing behind bushes near the highway
Taking pleasure in the small treasures in life
Pushing cars
Sending letters and thank you notes
Sharing a bedroom
Playing piano, clarinet, the recorder and the accordion
Buying and replacing windows that I broke
Washing out sewer drains
Enjoying cross country family road trips
AND SO MUCH MORE!
I asked so many questions as a child I am surprised my parents did not duck tape my mouth. The problem is... I still ask a lot of questions...what can I do, I am just curious?
My parents continue to influence my life all the time. For example, my mom explained how to start my own vegetable garden for a porch and as my parents were remodeling their bathroom over the week I learned what and "L" wrench was as well as how to reinstall new fictures. Thanks Mom and Dad!
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