Hi! My name is Amina Syeda, and I had the privilege of being a 2024 intern for ISHTaR. I’m currently a rising senior at Apex Friendship High School and the president of our Muslim Student Assocation (MSA). My favorite parts of school are being a part of our MSA and creating a safe space for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, as well as my sculpture classes! Outside of school, I love to scrapbook, play volleyball, and spend time with my family and friends.

ISHTaR has been an absolutely incredible experience. It’s exposed me to conversations and experiences that I will never forget, and will most definitely shape my future career aspirations. This internship is uniquely tailored to each intern’s career interests and individual research projects. And with the many different moving parts (book club, career conversations, shadowing, simulation labs, medical moulage, franklin street food….), each day is different, and each day you learn something new. I’ve learned about careers I never knew existed, and considered pathways I used to think were never for me.

I came into this internship with an interest in environmental science and its impact on human health. The intersections between environmental issues, racism, imperialism, (the list goes on) is something that has always captivated me. Through this internship, I was able to speak with epidemiologists and researchers who specialize in exactly what I was interested in, and talk to them about the work they do addressing challenges in this field.

I’m still exploring my future career path, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from this internship—it is that you will be fine. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do or have everything figured out. And down the road, you can end up somewhere you never thought you’d be. So, keep an open mind and accept the opportunities that present themselves to you. (That means apply!!)