Irene Jung

Irene Jung is a rising junior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL and has aspirations in pursuing an impactful career in the medical field, particularly within women's health. Irene’s passion for conducting research stems from her curiosity in medicine and gender studies, allowing her to grow in knowledge of and respect for women whose medical accomplishments are often overlooked. Her research experience ranges from competing in state science fairs to writing articles on underrepresented and unknown women for exposure organizations. Irene strives for communal impact through her work in substance use prevention as a member of the Illinois Prevention First Student Advisory Board and as the Member Engagement director at her school’s Catalyst Club (a youth substance prevention group). She is also an active leader, holding positions in clubs such as Future Doctors of America. As a violinist, a paramount aspect of Irene’s life is music. She is a part of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and accompanies local church choirs weekly.

About my YCCI Internship

Throughout my time as a YCCI intern, I was able to immerse myself in a learning experience that guided students towards the world of clinical research and its lasting impact. Alongside renowned professionals, nurturing leaders, and motivated peers, I was able to understand the significance of clinical trials and how it has changed the course of medicine throughout history. Having the opportunity to hear the personal testimonies of various community leaders and professionals in research, I was able to understand how "it takes a village to..." make medical breakthroughs possible! With this newfound wisdom, fellow interns and I were able to delve into various group projects. For me, I was assigned to the "Help Us Discover" project, where our group strived to stimulate participation in clinical trials with an all-in-one resource called, the Big Brown Box of Clinical Creations. We hoped to target a diverse demographic with a plethora of activities and resources such as social media outreach, board games, podcast, and brochure. Working with my group was a pleasure and I enjoyed getting to know my leaders and group members better. YCCI refined my abilities in critical and creative thinking, leadership, collaboration, and hard work. This internship truly was a supplemental experience towards connecting myself closer to medicine.

For Students Considering a YCCI Internship

For those of you who are on the edge about being part of this internship, apply! You never know what opportunities lie ahead for you, so without a doubt, try it out. If you are a driven and motivated student, you will meet like-minded peers and leaders through this program. One of my favorite parts about this internship was meeting students from all over the world and being part of such a diverse, yet connected community. I highly recommend taking notes for each speaker and asking any (and every) question you have. Vocalize and clearly express your understanding, confusion, excitement, gratitude, etc. and don't hold yourself back because of doubt. YCCI offers a welcoming environment and allows you to present your ideas and thoughts openly! I also strongly suggest you to make an effort in building a relationship with peers and leaders. The community that YCCI provides is something you don't want to miss! Overall, just put yourself out there, from when your applying until your an official YCCI intern. Embrace the opportunities that come your way!