My name is Yani Anwar, I am a rising Junior at Southeast Raleigh High School and am an intern for the summer 2024 ISHTaR Program. This internship piqued my interest as I have always been fascinated with medicine, research, and the medical environment. I am involved in various extracurricular sports such as baseball, wrestling, and soccer. I currently serve as the treasurer for my student government and partake in the Biomedical academy and the International Baccalaureate Academic Program. Along with these in-school activities, I am also active in the United Methodist Church Conference, where I serve as the Youth Conference Treasurer and am on various committees.

Not only do I highly value dedication, but also how my services can benefit others. This has directly affected how I value my work and my motivation to learn more about myself through education. At an early age, I knew that I wanted to go into medicine because of my mother’s research science background and the exposure I received because of that. Growing up, I would do science experiments and sometimes go into the lab with her to “bring your child to work.” day. This day held more excitement for me than Christmas because I was fixated on science. I have been adamant about expanding my scientific and medical knowledge. The internship stood out due to the program’s intimacy and the well-rounded experiences the internship offers. The activities like book clubs, group projects, and individual projects give a broad horizon of not only a taste of a corporate environment, but also a chance to work with others doing things you are passionate about.

ISHTaR allows you to develop very important skills such as research and networking skills which are imperative for a future in a field such as Medicine and research. I am excited for what this program will offer and how it will further assist me in my future career goals. As a black male, I want to serve underrepresented communities to make an impact. My ambition is to inspire others to accomplish dreams that they established for themselves and make a difference in the society we live in.