Essay Three

It all began on a summer day as I began my Young Dawgs internship at the University of Georgia’s college of pharmacy. It was my first day on the job and I was meeting my supervisor for the first time. As I walked into the small lab/office, I.D. in hand, I came across an older gentleman. I was uncertain if I was in the right place. Upon seeing my face, the gentleman, suddenly and abruptly left the room without speaking a word. He left me standing in the doorway, shock and confusion upon my face. I did not know what to do or say. I was even tempted to chase after him. Nervousness overcame me, so I simply stayed there, unmoving.
As if sent by the gods, a much younger woman, dressed in a seemingly slightly burned lab coat, entered the room. She greeted me not with a handshake, but with a hug. I completely became at ease. She introduced herself as my supervisor and the older gentleman as her superior. She told me that I would be making whale ointment that day. Yes, that is in no way a typing error, I would be making a series of ointments meant to be tested on a whale with skin ulcers. She handed me a lab coat and led me into the lab. The first thing she did was hand me a mortar and pestle. The first thing I did was break that particular mortar and pestle accidentley. My supervisor looked me in the eye and I expected to see the burning coals of hades simmering there, but instead I saw joy. She said to me “You are now officially a pharmacist!” and from that day on our wonderful working relationship and friendship grew.