Andra Trakalo '15

Andra T. 2015

Name: Andra Trakalo                                              

Graduating Class: 2015

Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology

Your Story:  My name is Andra Trakalo and I am a senior Biology major at Gustavus Adolphus College. I graduated from Lakeville North High School in 2011. I was originally drawn to Gustavus because of the beautiful campus, the great science program, the liberal arts education, faith and community focus of the school, and the opportunity to become involved in extracurricular activities. Some extracurricular activities I have been involved in at Gustavus are the Women’s Soccer Team, Tri-Beta National Biological Honors Society, Proclaim, Peer Mentoring Program, Study Buddies, and the Gustavus Equestrian Team.

I have chosen to pursue a career in pharmacy because I enjoy working in groups, caring for, educating, and serving others. Also, I have decided to become a pharmacist because of the diverse opportunities the pharmacy field offers. Through job shadowing experiences at Shopko Pharmacy, the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, and Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, I was able to explore many different roles that pharmacists have in different settings. I learned about the roles of community, hospital, and clinical pharmacists. I became especially intrigued with Medication Therapy Management, which is something I hope to pursue in the future. As a pharmacist in the future, I hope to educate patients and provide patient-centered care that meets each patient’s unique needs.

Top Activities and Experiences

  • Pharmacist job shadowing experiences
  • Becoming involved at Gustavus through Women’s Soccer Team, Tri-Beta National Biological Honors Society, Proclaim, Peer Mentoring Program, Study Buddies, and the Gustavus Equestrian Team.
  • Summer as a Wellness Department Intern. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to spend a lot of time in a community pharmacy as well as have a role in community health education.
  • Volunteering through the Mayo Clinic Health Systems
  • Club and High School soccer coach

Advice:

  • I strongly suggest doing research about pharmacy to learn more about the field and the different types of career opportunities. Job shadowing experiences allowed me to gain pharmacy knowledge through observation and it definitely solidified my decision about my choice to pursue pharmacy. Also, I suggest that you take the time to talk to pharmacists, professors, advisors, other health professionals, and students interested in the pharmacy field. Talking to others allowed me to gain knowledge about the field and to further determine why I want to become a pharmacist.
  • Take advantage of the amazing community here at Gustavus and the connections that Gustavus offers. I highly recommend that you become involved at Gustavus and other communities you are a part of to find what you are passionate about. Volunteering experiences and extra curricular activities are great experiences to talk about on pharmacy school applications, especially when you are truly passionate about them.
  • Leading up to applying to pharmacy school and the application process can be a stressful time, with many ups and downs. My best advice is to work hard, but also to take time for yourself to do activities you enjoy and to spend time with friends and family. Remember to have faith in your abilities and know that working hard will pay off in the long run.

Future Plans:

Attending the University of Minnesota, start Fall 2015.


                                                                                                                                                            Updated 7/15/2015 HB