Final Reflection Questions

Kristian Catahan

1. While writing your paper, what did you learn about the research process?
Writing my paper made me realize that I had to do intensive research in order to meet the 10
page requirement minimum. I had to make sure every source I used was reliable, so I had to use
the NCwiseowl search engine, which was a new process to me. I figured out how to properly
search my topic through that reliable, scholarly search engine. I also learned how to correctly do
in-text citations to cite specific information. Looking back, Im grateful that I learned useful tips
to eventually help me write essays in college.

2. How was the research related to your mentor hours?

My research related to my mentor hours since I did in depth research on pharmacy and then
shadowed a pharmacist. By researching the tasks that pharmacists fulfill each day, I had a better
understanding of what they were doing while I was completing my mentor hours. I got to witness
the pharmacists in action, which helped me make a connection between my paper and their
career. My research paper established a basic foundation for what I should expect in the
pharmacy department. During my shadowing experience, I was given the opportunity to act as
the role of a pharmacy technician; the paper also made me realize the importance of their career
in the hospital. Overall, the my paper matched the tasks that the pharmacists completed during
my mentor hours.

3. Summarize the mentor hours that you completed.

I completed my mentor hours over the course of a 10-hour shift with my mentor, Justin Winge,
the pharmacy manager. I spent the majority of time in the pharmacy department at Carolinas
Medical Center in Charlotte. For the first four hours of my shift, I stayed with a pharmacy
technician to observe her job and role in the hospital. Her main duty was to locate, package, and
send medication to its desired location in the building. I then went to view the compounding
area, where the pharmacists combine elements to form medicine. Afterwards, I went back to my
mentor who introduced me to a medical device called an Omnicell. Together, we sorted the
medication in the drawers. The remainder of my mentor hours was spent listening to my mentor
explain the responsibilities of his job while watching him address patients concerns on his
computer.

4. How did working with your mentor affect your understanding of the topic area and /or
the professional world?
My mentor provided me with major insight on his role as a pharmacist. He gave me a more
in-depth understanding of the demands of the career, which was more than I expected. My
shadowing experience helped me realized that being a pharmacist comes with much more
responsibilities than people acknowledge. At first, I thought that pharmacists only have to make
medication for doctors and patients, but they actually focus on the assembly and delivery of the
medication as well. After working with my mentor, my understanding of the pharmacy career
was enhanced because I experienced their true duties towards the medical field.

5. How did creating a product and completing the hours challenge you personally?
Contacting my mentor for the shadowing experience challenged me since I was initially nervous
to reach out to him. After deciding on a date, I realized I had to complete all of my hours in one
10-hour shift. It was an exhausting day, but I knew that this would prepare me for the real career
world where Ill have to endure long hours. That experience also taught me how to stay calm and
act professional in every situation, which Ill need to obtain for my pharmacy career. In regards
to the product, I struggled with finding the motivation to get started with it, even though I faced a
time crunch to complete it. I felt tempted to procrastinate a couple of times, but I learned to push
through. Personally, I obtained the initiative to accomplish my task.

6. Do you feel prepared academically and emotionally for the presentation? a. If not, why?
What challenges do you still face to feel prepared?
I feel well-prepared, more academically than emotionally, for the presentation. Im proud of
myself for getting a head start on all of the components of the project; I managed to push myself
to stay motivated in order to avoid procrastination. Im thankful that I had a strong work ethic
since the beginning of this project. I disciplined myself to finish each task early to avoid rushing
to meet the deadline, especially when it came to my product. However, the main challenge I face
as the pride presentation date approaches is the nervousness of actually presenting my project in
front of a random panel of judges. Ill feel uneasy during those few before my presentation, but I
know that I can better prepare for the presentation by continuing to rehearse beforehand.
Although it makes me nervous to acknowledge the value of the pride presentation as a whole, it
motivates me to work harder knowing that the presentation is a huge deal.

7. How did the entire process stretch you as a learner and as an individual?
Overall, the whole process made me a more determined student as I had to adjust to the workload
and consistently keep up with the deadlines. The project made me more prepared for college by
encouraging me stay ahead of the work, rather than fall behind. I stretched myself to work on my
project, even when I initially lacked the motivation. As an individual, I learned to make priorities
and keep a constant focus on the importance of this project. Ill keep using these characteristics
in college to help me with my productivity.

8. Other than time management, describe an obstacle you encountered and how you
overcame it.
Planning the product was one of the obstacles I encountered during the Pride Project. Prior to the
product, I submitted every assignment on time, including the mentor consent form, the pride
portfolio checks, and each product approval form. However, one of the main obstacles I was
faced with involved a time crunch with the teacher whose class I showed my product to. Since
she had a limited schedule while planning the best time for me to come in, I was forced to choose
a date within two weeks of our meeting. I was faced with a major time constraint, causing me to
doubt that I would actually finish it in time. Although this situation was out of my control, the
close deadline motivated me to work extra hard in order to complete the entire product. Im
proud of myself for overcoming the stress and pressure to get the product done while putting in
my best effort to provide the class with a medication lesson.

9. What life skills did you acquire and how will they help you in the future?
I acquired the determination to execute a task with my best effort, even if I didnt feel motivated
to at first. I learned how to push through and manage my time in order to get each assignment
done. I became more hardworking since I learned to avoid the unnecessary distractions while
doing each task. This project made me a more productive person, which Ill use in college when
I have a workload to get through. In college, Ill have prior knowledge in managing my time so I
can work more efficiently.

10. If you had to go back and do parts of the project again, what would you do differently?
As a whole, Im satisfied with my work ethic during this project and its outcome. If I were given
the chance to go back, I would make sure that I put ample time into creating the presentation
while I was in Public Speaking. I lost a bit of motivation during the week before winter break,
which prevented me from giving my full effort into the practice presentation in front of Mr.
Piatak. I could have practiced my presentation at least once beforehand in order to prep for the
practice run-through in class. If I could go back, I would have better-prepared myself for the
run-through presentation since it was the only chance to present in front of a class audience.

11. Based on the entire Pride Project experience, do you plan to pursue this field as a
career or college area of study? If so, why? If not, why? Please be specific.
After doing depth research on the pharmacy field, I plan to pursue this career in college next
school year. I felt like this project prepared me for what to expect within this career and taught
me what steps to take to reach the pharmacy position. During my mentor experience, I realized
that this career suites me; I could see myself working in the pharmacy field for the majority of
my life. I discovered a deeper interest in this area of study, which I would not have gotten
without completing this Pride Project. I plan to start my pharmacy track by taking a 2-year
pre-pharmacy course, either at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, or at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After completing the project, I feel more encouraged to pursue
pharmacy as my future career.