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What pharmacy practice is of the greatest interest to me and why?

Student of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Applied Health Science, Worcester Accelerated PharmD. Program  11/ 2002 VH

When I first started working at Prescription City, an independent community pharmacy, I was so enthusiastic.  I was sixteen and I wanted to gain more knowledge and get involved in the field of pharmacy.  I considered this job a wonderful pathway for myself; I would be fully exposed to pharmacy and its' aspects; to see what a pharmacist does on a daily basis. I was disappointed.  I had always imagined a pharmacist as someone who counsels patients on medication use and effects, interacted with doctors on a one and one basis and using the knowledge gained thru schooling.  I soon found out that retail pharmacist are simply professions of the "lick and stick" and "count and pour" duties.  When a patient came into the pharmacy and would ask to speak to a pharmacists regarding the use and effects of their medications, the pharmacist would simply go to the computer, print out a drug monograph, hand it to the patient and say this should explain everything about your medication, thank you and have a nice day."  It was quite discouraging.  I decided to do some research focusing on fields of pharmacy.  I discovered a vast majority of pharmacy career opportunities, not just retail.  The one profession that caught my eye immediately was clinical pharmacy.  It seemed a lot more demanding , more interesting and more involved.  I immediately interned with a pharmacist who was working at a hospital as a clinical pharmacist.  I watched him with his daily rounds, interacting with patients and doctors.  It was so rewarding and challenging at the same time.  I realized immediately, this is where I wanted to be in my future.  I did not want to be standing in front of a computer for 10 hours a day, on the phone with third parties.  I wanted to be more involved and more wanted.  Recently I have had the opportunity to volunteer at a Hospice.  I* am working closely with one patient who is dying of cancer.  His stories and my interactions with his nurses have inspired me to specialize in the field of oncology pharmacy.  I would really like to be placed in a profession that gives high-quality patient care.  I want to do more than just dispense medicine.  I want to establish relationships with my patients.  I want cancer patients and their families to know that they can confide in a pharmacist who cares.  A pharmacist who is willing to counsel them on their medication use and effects it may have.  I would like to establish a one-on-one relationship with their doctors and help the physician provide the best care possible by going over therapeutic needs or alternative.  I want to utilize my education and be able to serve my role.  I feel that we as pharmacist are the second best asset to a patient when it comes to questions and/or concerns regarding their medication.  I want to be able to provide such care to my patients in a setting that I feel will fulfill my goals and meet my expectations of being a good, caring, and knowledgeable pharmacist.