Composition 4: Reading is a Novel Idea

“Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is.” [1]

A quote from Paulo Coelho from his world-renowned novel, The Alchemist.

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It’s a fascinating book if you ever picked it up perchance; or had to read it in middle school/high school.

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The king of Salem introduces the concept of destiny to “the boy.”

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Basically, he explains that when one teems with life, passion, and youth, then seemingly, the “world is one’s oyster.” If you’re not a fan of shellfish, then I’ll translate: the young ones “know,” the excitement and confidence a fresh mind can have.

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As a wee little lad, I knew of my own path as well. I longed to write stories of tremendous journeys. My imagination had no bounds. I surrounded myself with books packed with mystery, adventure, and magic.

Whether it was Pinecrest Elementary, Howard Elementary, Palmetto Middle, Carmel Valley Middle, Torrey Pines High, you could catch me red-handed checking out books left and right at the stated schools’ libraries.

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The greatest books that I remember as clear as day were the tales of gathering sorcerer’s stones, exuding magic abilities, and learning the trade of a wondrous bard. Books like these unlocked my mind and put me on a path set to authorship; well, at least as child.?

Then, almost like a mystery, the time for it all seemed to vanish. The river leading to the story books dried up. (Metaphorically analogous to the likes of Aang from Avatar the Last Airbender- "when the world needed him most, he vanished.")

Somewhere it became almost like a race against the clock. There were only a few years away from the comprehensive college applications.

---> Take a challenging high school curriculum. Do 4-5 Advanced Placement classes in your junior plus senior year if you can muster the strength. Take the SAT or ACT once, twice, why not thrice. Start journaling for those compelling personal essays. Don't shy on the extracurriculars. And volunteer work is separate somehow? Top it off with the three recommendation letters from your overworked teachers...be sure to poke several times in advance because one or two may fall thru.

---> You did it. University.

Now, look at the yellow brick road ahead. Professional school? Is it medical, dental, PA/nursing, pharmacy, or graduate science? Well get right back to round two young fellow! Volunteering and extracurriculars should be a commonplace hobby by now. Add on work or internships at the very least, and make sure to shadow 250+ hours because only then can you be “trusted” to know you’ve “explored your dreams.” Lead a couple of organizations on the side. And just for fun- let’s double the recommendation letters to six. But make it compiled from one committee and have it sent in a timely fashion.?

---> That's fine and dandy. I landed on my path, which I am so unbelievably grateful for as the fit was perfect. Pharmacy school!

Okay,

Labs indoor, case studies plus OSCEs to explore, quizzes galore, tests-no-more, and textbooks with page sizes you’d abhor.

*intercession* (DiPiro and Katzung are really, really greats books by the way…I’m not down casting any of the reading material we used).

*resume* Yet with all those years under a certain type of selective pressure, where was the time to read for leisure anymore? And I mean like a really good book just for fun that stretched your mental capacity to a far-reaching galaxy. (So not a Nicholas Sparks novel in this circumstance; #sorry).

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Pause. Let's stop. Let's rewind the clock.

Take us back to the theme or main idea of the essay.

The novel, The Alchemist, had a plethora of wonderous characters to inquire upon. (By the way, it was borderline illegal to use the word “plethora,” since second grade English, for some inconspicuous reason).

King of Salem.

The camel driver.

The gypsy.

The Englishman.?

“We are afraid of losing what we have.” [1]

The camel driver explains to the people how naturally, people have a fear of losing what they have- from their own lives to their possessions. However, the camel driver proclaims that, through the strength and hand of God, people do not need to bear this fear.

Likewise, in reality, if you're in a professional school- yes, there will always be another exam and another project. Yet trust the process that the same outcome will be achieved with or without the worry. Trust that there is time to incorporate a weekly or even daily schedule for well-being and selfcare. A book can be quite soothing.

“It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them.” [1]

The gypsy attempts to interpret the reoccurring events that the boy dreams of. I hope the boy starts to get the concept that there lies more than meets the eye when it comes to the simpler things.

The run-on joke that we say in P1 (first year pharmacy) through P3 (third year pharmacy), is that "it gets better."

“He looked around at the empty plaza again, feeling less desperate than before. This wasn’t a strange place; it was a new one…”?[1]

The boy finally has the idea in his mind that he dreams of; he has an adventure before him, and suddenly, it seems like he has the ability to conquer the world before his feet.?

Starting a professional career was a momentous change of pace in my life.?After a short time into school, I accepted this new change of pace- this simply exemplified how things were and I had to get back on the train. I admitted to myself that things actually didn’t seem all that overbearing; it was just a tad different than the usual accommodations. I put on that smile that I can never seem to rid of, moved on, and met some wonderful people that I would hang out with for the next few years. Soon, I managed the content and the projects with greater ease and found the mental capacity to make room for the simple things in life. (Yes, even if I was apart of the 20+ organizations).

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Time for the wrap up.

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“Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.” [1]

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The Englishman, after receiving the advice from the alchemist gets right back at his efforts to find his personal legend. He recognizes that while a great deal of time passes since he probably could have begun his experiments, he feels grateful to not waste any more precious time.?

If you haven't stumbled upon the symbolism I am trying to sell you...listen, I'd love to tell you that you should read a good book once in a while. I feel like most people don't turn a page enough.

However, if that's not your cup of tea, I'll settle with you. So long as you find a passion or a pastime to enjoy through the process (be it school, work, or otherwise).

Bake some sour dough.

Replay that instrument.

Go to the park to get some cracker jacks.

Collect seashells at the seashore. (Or oyster shells).

Spend Saturday afternoons watching classic cartoons.

Glue together five hundred beautiful pieces of a puzzle.

Do something even if it seems like nothing. I promise you are not losing any time. You are gaining mental fortitude.?

It'll translate to spiritual gratitude.

Or also...read a book. Seriously, they're great! Some of them. That one that goes "one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish," is pretty cool. The world is your oyster so go do something as the clock is ticking.

[1] Coelho, Paulo.?The Alchemist. Thorsons, 1995.

Next week if you don't unsubscribe, we'll keep it much shorter. And let's pivot back to pharmacy leadership for students for broader utility to readers.

Thanks. (+) I'd love to hear either your thoughts on your personal journey or the activities in your exciting adventures; feel free to share below.

Also, for respectful purposes...I stole? the title from a pun website: “Reading is a novel idea," which did not establish clear references.

Here are a handful of other puns because who doesn’t love some.

• Stay true to your-shelf.
• You’ve never read Fitzgerald? You Gatsby kidding me!
• Charlotte Bront? is such a breath of fresh Eyre.
• But can we all agree to leave writing poetry to the prose?
• Past, present, and future walked into a bar. It was tense.
• Only spreading good scribes around here.?