self reflection #1

So we're supposed to write self reflections for every rotation that we do to put in out portfolio for the professors to read to see what we got out of the rotation we just did. Seeing as that I think I might forget to write one, as I forget to do a lot of things, (I'm a mess, I know) I thought it would finally be a good opportunity to write one now, while the memories of my first rotation as a sixth year are still fresh in my mind. I never thought I was going to enjoy my rotation as much as I did, and I think it's important that I remember to record that here, especially when I do sit down and write my real self reflection.

I initially wasn't going to take this rotation in the first place; I really only took it on the suggestion of Rajar because he said it was an interesting rotation to take and that his sister took it last year. I thought to myself, what interest do I have about Wall Street? I know nothing at all about stocks or bonds or what the NASDAQ is. (FYI I still don't know what NASDAQ stands for, ha!) Why would I take that rotation? But in the interests of Rajar and of course in the interests of Viv (who of course loves the luxury of being on Park Avenue) and because we thought we would have a shot of taking a rotation together in New York if we all picked it as our first choice - after all, who wants to go to an investment bank for a Pharmacy rotation? - I put it as my first choice for my clinical other rotation. So we crossed our fingers for the spin and hoped we would get it together. Of course, Rutgers, being the RU Screw it has always been, didn't pair us up at all, which flipped me out because Viv's clinical was this cycle and her Needham & Company rotation is when I have my clinical. Bananas, I know.

But, aside from all of that, I am glad that I took my rotation with my classmate Paul. We got along super well for having never spoken to each other at all for the past 5 years and I think the dynamic between us was appropriate for being on rotation together. I never felt like it was a competition between us, and I always felt like I could rely on him for moral and intellectual support. And of course, he is a superb lunch time walking buddy especially when we climb rocks in Central Park and eat cupcakes and go to the Gucci store and 5th Avenue where we can't afford anything.

Of course I can't fully comtemplate my rotation without mentioning my preceptor, Dr. Mark, and his former associate Glen (who left the company before our rotation ended to go back to clinical practice), and Alan, the other Senior analyst, as well as all of the people who work at the company. Dr. Mark is probably one of the best preceptors I have ever had and I definitely learned a lot from him. Glen was a great mentor too, even though he wasn't directly our preceptor he did take care of us when Dr. Mark was away and helped us whenever we had questions. He taught us about the way the stock market works and I learned how to invest in stocks (after I graduate of course, haha) and even why the stripes of British ties are different from the stripes of American ties. (FYI: it is because the British people patented the way their ties are striped and to overcome that, American tie makers striped their ties the other way. I'm serious! Now when you look at striped ties you're going to wonder whether they're American or European. HA) I feel like through their teachings, I definitely grew as a person, from being strictly a student to becoming a worker. There is a fine line between professionalism and stepping over the line and I'm glad I knew how to be a professional and how to develop work relationships from them. Dr. Mark definitely has a passion for teaching and I'm glad I was able to acquire so many invaluable lessons and teachings from them, most I hope to remember always. I know now what it takes financially to grow a company, to develop a new product, to find a market share for this product, and to see the impact it has on the company and its investors when it is close to becoming a marketed commercial product. I can read the body language and enthusiasm of people to see whether it is worth investing for or even using, for that matter. And who knew all that Drug Info stuff was really that handy .. haha! Thanks Dr. DeSantis I owe you one. LOL! I never knew how much science and finance could be intertwined. I think that was an especially important lesson for me, because I couldn't really see the big picture with the Pharmaceutical Industry because of all of the negative press it gets for charging the price of brand name drugs. You tend to forget that people actually put their hard earned money into a company because they think it has a chance to #1 help people and #2 make them some money (of course), because all you really think about is how it affects you when you get the end product. But it's much more than me, or the investors, or the company, or anything, because what happens in this industry partially has an effect on the whole economy itself. Finally coming to that conclusion after these 5 weeks is definitely something that I find to be a major accomplishment.

Honestly I doubt that I'll ever work on Park Avenue again in the finance world, especially because wearing real business clothes sucks when you don't have the money to afford them. Also, the hours are long and endless, even though the pay I'm assuming is very lucrative. Maybe, there is a slight chance I might try the finance world if I end up getting my MBA, but we'll see. Working inside an isolated cubicle is really tough. I can't tell you how many times I had to get up and walk around and how Paul and I always had to get a drink or something because we were either about to fall asleep or bored out of our minds (despite the amount of work we had to do, haha) I am thankful that Rutgers did give me the opportunity to be in Midtown in one of the nicest places of Manhattan. Maybe from time to time I'll walk around there and visit, especially the Hello Kitty statues and the wonderful fruit stands, and of course, Central Park. New York is definitely lovely this time of the year.

I wonder if my subsequent rotations will ever top this one; it is kind of awkward that my best rotation came first. But I did have the best cycle because I got to go to the opulence that is the New York Palace Hotel, as well as going to Le Parker Meridien for free. But hopefully, with the experiences that I have encountered, and with the knowledge I have gained, I am destined for bigger and better things. I hope.

the sign of things to come, as an art form

dedicated to Dr. Mark: Paul's favorite soup, which is also great as a sauce, too