If anyone would ask me what I have learnt in my hospital career, I would sum up the last couple of years in 4 significant lessons. I hope that in reading this, you too would form your own opinions and feed them back to me. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated. :)

• Rumination #1: To excel, one must have passion. Take stock frequently and know your sphere of influence. Work continually to expand that sphere.
• Rumination #2: To ensure your practice stays alive, one must teach and stay current.
• Rumination #3: Value lies in the eyes of the beholder. Continually ask, "What is my contribution to the public and to the profession with my skills, talents and knowledge?"
• Rumination #4: You are the agent of change. You want change? Don't expect it, act on it!

There are numerous people to thank, but insufficient space to do it. I will thus keep this as short as possible.

I wish to name specifically Ms M K Fatimah, Mr Liak Teng Lit and Mrs Chew Kwee Tiang for believing in me and pushing me that extra mile. It is through the opportunities they gave me that I had the chance to grow to what I am today. Very early on as a young pharmacist, I took Mr Liak's challenge to be a "dung beetle" - one who could convert manure into fertilizer. Till today, this is the thing that he had said that still keeps me going, especially when the going gets rough. I want to thank my colleagues, the wonderful pharmacists of Alexandra Hospital, for the great support and understanding they had accorded to me; when I had to walk dark moments or disappointments, many of them were with me and prayed with me, or for me, every step of the way. Thank you girls, for being my friends and being the best colleagues any one could have!

The most important person which I have not forgotten is my husband, Tim. He is the best - most supportive and encouraging, and continues to be encouraging and supportive despite the amount of emotional and physical turmoil he witnesses in me. He sees my struggle with balancing work and home; he would rather I stay home to look after the 3 wonderful little blessings we have in our lives; and yet, he wholeheartedly supports me in whatever decisions I have made professionally, and has never scrimped on his unyielding support, be it physical, emotional or mental. My in-laws and parents deserve some recognition too, for being the chauffeur or babysitters, for without them it would have been impossible to carry on my professional duties as a pharmacist.

Most of all, I wish to give thanks to our Divine Father in Heaven who has singlehandedly orchestrated all things. He has given me the strength and the grace to cope with all that life throws at me; and the wisdom to make good decisions. I praise Him for the countless blessings and guidance, for the abundance of people who love and support me, for without Him, I would be nothing. It is my prayer that with the talents (and hopefully wisdom) He has blessed me with, I can continue to be the best mother, sister, daughter and pharmacist that I can be.

The best is yet to be.

Doreen Tan Su-Yin
BSc (Pharm), BCPS, CGP
Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Alexandra Hospital
102nd Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore (PSS) Council Member
Ex-officio, PSS Hospital Chapter

**********