Acquiescence

The Apothecary

I do remember an apothecary
In tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows,
Culling of simples; meagre were his looks,
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones;
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,
An alligator stuff’d and others kins
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves
A beggarly account of empty boxes,
Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds,
Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses,
Were thinly scattered to make up a show.

  ( Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare)

Who would have thought a pharmacy lecturer would care for poetry eyh? Well, Prof. Louis Roller does. Loved his lecture on Pharmacy Through The Ages to bits. Unfortunately, not many others in the lecture hall shared my sentiments. Most of them looked bored, confused or worse, both. Would not have minded it so much if they at least have the decency to keep quiet but NO, they just have to chatter. Took every ounce of composure I had not to tell the boys in the back row to shut up.

So far my plan to simply go along with pharmacy and take everything in stride is going well. There were moments where it is agonisingly difficult to keep my generally latent misanthropy in check but it is all good. I've been doing my best to go with the flow and not resist and succumb to my anti-social nature. I talk when I am expected to, smile and nod when I deem fit, I tolerate (reluctantly) triple pecks and do my best to be mentally present. I get along.

Grateful for everything that I have now, I am content. I've locked my dreams in my heart, not to be stowed away, but to kindle in me the will to succeed. The time has come for me to put Carpe Diem, or 'Sieze The Day' in practice. I plan to no longer take my academic endeavours at face value. If passion for Pharmacy is what I lack, I'll make do with simply learning for the sake of knowledge in all its purity. Being me, to study practically, matter-of-factly is inapplicable. I'll only end up being reticent, and bitter.

Not with love, but desire, I seek to ameliorate myself.