Pharmacy, Technology, and Perseverance: My Path to Research and Development

Title: Pharmacy, Technology, and Perseverance: My Path to Research and Development

Inventions and Setbacks: The Beginning of My Path in Science

I was not a high-performing student in school. From the beginning, I liked Designing and creating new tools or devices. I also created a projector and a galvanometer. Because of these minor innovations, my friends used to call me a ‘Scientist’. I studied Classes 1 to 8 at M.S.P. Primary School in my village. I obtained 74% in my Class 10 exams administered by the GSEB in 2017. My results were not outstanding, but, they were respectable. I chose to pursue the Science stream for Classes 11 and 12. I struggled a lot in studies in Class 12 and was able to secure only 54%, which disappointed me.

Tech, Pharmacy, and Transformation: How I Reclaimed Confidence and Success

I enrolled in a Diploma in Pharmacy program. I was going through a really tough period of my life. I was losing confidence and started feeling weak and demotivated. But, I did not give up. I started putting more effort into my overall development. Finally, I received an 8.9 CPI in my DPharma course that gave me a new hope. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with my Diploma studies. I was free, so, I began concentrating on my interests. I started a YouTube channel and created videos on various topics related to Technology. I was amazed to see how many people enjoyed watching my videos and how well-liked they were by my college friends. It made me feel proud of my efforts.

I enrolled in Bachelor of Pharmacy program at L.M. College of Pharmacy. I also started preparing for various competitive exams such as NIPER JEE, GATE, and GPAT. I started gaining interest in Research when I worked on a project that involved using the Silver nanoparticles to purify water. In addition, I also won a Hackathon during my graduation. These experiences helped me to gain confidence and learn new things.

A New Chapter in Pharmacy: From the Brink of Disappointment to New Beginnings

At the end of my bachelor's degree, my CPI was 7.8. I was successful on the NIPER JEE, GATE, and GPAT tests. But, I failed in the interview round of IIT Bombay. It disappointed me a lot. But, taking gap for a year was not an option for me. So, I applied for the NIPER college. But, I missed getting into the college by only 1 rank. After this, I joined LinkedIn and tried to contact my seniors through it. Following their guidance, I got admitted to the Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharma) in Pharmacology course at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda.

I am putting huge efforts into learning more about this profession. Recently, our college's new building was constructed. It has one large library on the ground floor. Most of the official departments and the seminar hall is located on the ground floor. On the 1st and 2nd floors, there are separate laboratories for each department. For example, the Pharmacology department has about 3 rooms, and there are separate labs for Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, etc. All classrooms are well-ventilated and equipped with air conditioning. Almost all classrooms have projectors. There are two separate hostels for boys and girls. The college has a canteen and a computer lab.

Fueled by Passion, Guided by Purpose: My Journey to R&D at the Sun Pharma

Even though I enjoy learning things about Technology, I chose Pharmacy as my career. My dream is to work in the Research and Development (R&D) department at the Sun Pharma. This job will let me use my Technical skills as well as my Pharmacy knowledge. Apart from studies, I like to listen to music. It helps me to stay calm and motivated all the time. I also like playing indoor games such as the Carrom Board. My journey has been full of ups and downs. But, I believe dedication and hard work will definitely lead to success. My family has supported me a lot throughout this journey, and the belief they have in me motivates me every day to give my best. I hope I can contribute to the Healthcare field.

About the Author:

Hardik is currently pursuing MPharma in Pharmacology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda. He has a keen interest in Technology. He wants to work in the Research and Development (R&D) department at the Sun Pharma.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely the author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.