After six months of studying, I FINALLY passed my national exam. I’m officially a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Next time I log into work, I’m adding that “CPhT” to the end of my name. I don’t have my score yet, but it doesn’t matter in the long run since I passed.
I was elated to see that instant confirmation that my six months of hard work, including cramming most of the details of 600 medications had paid off. Honestly, they could’ve had far more math questions since that was my strong suit.
Especially since that exam had the nerve to throw in ANOTHER drug other than the 600 I’d studied. My only saving graces for that question were that I knew what the other three meds did and the mystery drug had the correct suffix for the drug class needed.
Nonetheless, I skipped off, driving to the other side of town to splurge on an early dinner. I’d always wanted to check out a new Korean BBQ place and ended up getting a hot pot since I dined alone. Even though it was a bit pricey, I justified the expenditure by making it part of my celebration itinerary.
For Friday, the celebration was merely not having to study before and after work nor on my breaks. What a luxury! Of course, I had to stop myself from plunging into some other time-consuming activity. Yet, there are at least two projects that I had put on the back burner until I finished my coursework. I may revive one of them on Sunday. After a mani-pedi.
On Saturday, I attended an R&B festival with my sister and a friend. Mother Nature cooperated and we enjoyed five hours of breathing fresh air, talking, people-watching and taking advantage of the food truck libations.

I avoided all the barbecue since my sister had already made preparations to barbecue ribs and sausage. She makes the best in town, coupled with Mom’s potato salad.
Instead, I got an order of pork shoulder with yellow rice and beans, but what really set the whole meal off were the tostones (fried savory plantains). Instead of being a half-dollar sized, the biggest one stood up at one end of the to-go boat like a tombstone. Originally, I had wondered why they didn’t cover the food, but as I walked back to my seat, I became a walking advertisement for that Puerto Rican vendor, which boasted being the 2023 best food truck of the year.
At the start of my coursework, I’d stated that a new phone and earbuds would be my reward for successfully passing the national exam. With all the tariff bullshit, I think it’s going to cost me even more than before, but I’m determined to have something better than what I have now since I want to take spectacular pictures for my upcoming trip to Ghana.
That has to be the motto during this administration: keep moving forward with bouts of relaxation.