From January to August, I completed my second and third semesters of my 1st year of pharmacy. I survived the difficult pharmacokinetic courses, worked in a hospital pharmacy in Sacramento and busy 24-hour CVS pharmacy for my Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) hours; and managed to balance study with outings with friends. I also began thinking about my ideal independent community pharmacy as a result of the entrepreneurial pharmacy course

August 4-24 was my well-earned break from a tough third semester. My family and I traveled to major destinations along the Southern Silk Road in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in China. We had many enlightening experiences learning about the minority cultures (the Bai people) and the ancient Shu people of Sichuan; and Buddhist beliefs. Like the people in the past, we made a 5-hour pilgrimage up the Meili Snow Mountain (one of the holy Buddhist mountains) and explored the beautiful scenery of Yunnan province. After the adventures in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, we stayed in Beijing for a week and marveled at the modern changes the city undertook as a result of the 2008 summer Olympics. It was quite a change from my first visit in 1998.

Immediately after my trip, I started my first semester as a second-year pharmacy student. The coursework took a different turn from the first year, going more in-depth in the practice of pharmacy. Therapeutic courses consist of learning about the disease state and treatment algorithm used to treat and (possibly) prevent complications as a result of the disease. I learned about the treatments used for gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric disorders. I also completed my health fair outreach hours required by the school.

Following my semester, I enjoyed 3 weeks off in December, during which I caught up with a few friends and saw some movies: The Hobbit, Lincoln, and Skyfall. I also managed to complete Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and read a few books. Although I only read 11 out of 12 books, I was pleased to read something other than the textbook. As for meeting goals, I completed my 2011 travel journals but failed to regularly exercise and read pharmacy-related (or non-fiction articles).

In 2013, I plan to

• Reduce clutter by not buying unnecessary items.
• Balance work and school appropriately.
• Relieve my anger/irritation in a peaceful manner.
• Be flexible. Accept what cannot be changed and let go.
• Exercise regularly to relieve stress (30 minutes/day)
• Limit internet usage to 1-2 hours daily (Exception: Checking school email and resource website). Also, includes smart phone usage.