The Gift of Choice
Written by Amber Manini
Everyone has something that motivates them to do the things they do on a daily basis. Whether it be pushing ourselves to go to our eight a.m. class or pushing through that last set of squats at the gym. There is a reason we have the freedom of choice in life and that reason is what makes all of us different from one another. For some of us this choice of finding what we love in life takes what seems like forever as we stumble through learning what we don’t like to do.
On the other hand, a handful of us know from the time we are children exactly what we want to do and why we want to do it. Consistently finding motivators throughout our lives are an additional reason why we should continue to strive for our goals.
Pharmacy students take around eight years or more to complete a doctorate in Pharmacy degree. The University of Hawaii at Hilo is currently the only pharmacy program offered to students in the Pacific. Samantha Hanabaga a local Hilo resident and graduate of Keaau High School is a current student within the Pharmacy program.
As a student, she is also a volunteer as the University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Student Chapter President. As the president, Hanabaga manages administrative work to ensure the NCPA student chapter is running smoothly, facilitates meetings providing members with career development opportunities, provides community members with service through community service events, all while learning about the business-management side of community pharmacy.
Hanabaga coordinates with the Blood Bank of Hawaii every year to put on the UH Hilo’s Annual Blood Drive that occurs every Spring semester here at UH Hilo. She is also responsible for putting on various Compounding for Kids events, which involve producing silly putty, playdough and or lip balm (chap stick). For the past two years, Hanabaga has also been involved in helping with the PREP Fair as a representative from the Pharmacy program. The PREP Fair is an event that has helping to bring awareness to the public on how to be prepared in the case of a disaster or emergency evacuation in regards to medication.
Samantha is currently a third year pharmacy student. Her career goals include to serve as a community health educator working in ambulatory care as a pharmacist in an out patient clinic or family cilic or serving as an institutional pharmacist in a hospital. These careers Samantha states will help her to keep up with the continuously changing health profession. Allowing her the ability to not only work with a medical team of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals but to also help to educate and work with student residents and student pharmacists.
“Being born and raised in Hawaii has allowed me to build a love for the aina, the people and the varying cultures, and most of all the ALOHA spirit instilled in all of Hawaii people. This is my home and the place I grew up in, and the best thing that I can do is to give back. I was able to utilize my knowledge as a student pharmacist and pass on the knowledge to the community, since many people are on medications now days, but are not aware that medications along with food, water, and shelter are the major priorities in the case of an emergency evacuation or natural disaster,” said Hanabaga.
When asking one of the professors of Samantha their thoughts on her work ethic and how she is different from other students, they responded saying “Samantha's leadership, enthusiasm, professional follow through and aloha,” said Dr. Forrest Batz. Dr. Batz is the College of Pharmacy faculty contact for the PREP Fair and has worked first hand with Samatha to help prepare and organize the event. “Samantha was especially excited to volunteer for the event held at Keaau High School, from which she graduated. After having done a terrific job for the 2013 PREP Fair, Samantha and her organization were asked, and accepted, to take the lead again for the 2014 PREP Fair,” said Dr. Batz.
Finding and learning what we are born to do is the constant struggle we face throughout our lives. However, once you do find it, learn to take advantage of the opportunity and the gift you are given. Take the time to give back to the community, volunteer, and participate in as much work related experience as you can. As Samantha states, “Exciting, a new opportunity to learn, utilize my own expertise, and make a difference in someone’s life and in life itself.” Use your gift of choice to benefit you and the world around you.
