Co-Curriculum Corner: Internship Insights

February 22nd 2023

Our signature program continues to provide all Madeira students with amazing internships and valuable experience in the working world. Some of our recent interns share their stories about learning pragmatic, real-world skills and participating in fascinating research.

George Washington University Cancer Center - Lab Research

Saanvi P. '23

"I interned at The George Washington University Cancer Center in Washington, DC, specifically in The Zheng Lab, primarily researching the identification of target genes regulated by the Hedgehog signaling pathway. I’ve been able to observe and perform exciting lab techniques, such as plasmid purification, PCR, cryosection, cloning, and gel electrophoresis, and learn how to analyze data. From this internship, I realized the large impact cancer research makes in academia and society.

The critical thinking and observational skills I’ve learned as a Madeira student both inside and outside the classroom have helped enhance my experience at GW Cancer Center. I’ve uncovered more about myself by putting these skills into practice. This internship has highlighted my desire to seek out and understand new knowledge as well as my workplace flexibility. Because of this internship, I was able to see myself in a difficult but interesting career in medical research. As someone who wants to work in healthcare in the future, I am now not only interested in clinical care, but also the research aspect of this field."

Bon Secours Southside Regional Medical Center

Kaden B. '23

“I have always been passionate about becoming a doctor, so during my senior year Co-Curriculum internship, I shadowed the Chair of OB/GYN at Bon Secours Southside Regional Medical Center, Dr. Daphne P. Bazile. My experience was incredible. I was hesitant before I started the internship because I was unsure about the tasks I would be doing. However, the shadowing experience affirmed my passion for pursuing the medical field. One of the most exciting experiences I had was the opportunity to see an open surgery called an abdominal myomectomy. The procedure involves the doctor making an incision in the patient’s lower abdomen and removing any fibroids along the uterus wall. Being able to watch the surgery felt so unreal. It made me realize a doctors’ importance in someone’s life.

Madeira’s classes helped me realize the importance of asking questions to understand what was happening around me as I shadowed. At first, I was hesitant to ask questions. However, over time, I became more comfortable and started to ask questions to understand the doctor’s tasks and the complex medical terminology that she and the other medical professionals used. In addition, it takes patience and passion to be skilled in the medical profession. By shadowing Dr. Bazile, I developed these two capacities and will continue to develop them throughout my life.”

Senator Tim Kaine's Office (VA)

Jacqueline G. '24

"For my junior year Co-Curriculum placement, I interned with Senator Kaine’s office. From bringing American flags to the mail room to ship to constituents, to diligently taking notes on the importance of South American trade for the Senator to reference later, I was fortunate to be able to tackle a variety of tasks.

One of the memorable moments of my internship was the Senator’s celebration of his 10 years as a senator. I worked the event, ensuring that it went smoothly. I even had a chance to chat with him during the setup. He asked about Madeira, my experience as an intern, and my future plans. At the end of the event, as I was leaving, Senator Kaine was playing his harmonica on stage. He took a moment to wave to me, which meant so much. Everyone in his office, even a high school intern like me, has importance.

At Madeira, I have learned to speak up and say what I think in class, which has helped me immensely on The Hill. In the workplace, you need to advocate for yourself. Being surrounded by adults has made this experience a real learning opportunity. The adults treated me as their colleague and treated me with enough respect to expect me to make decisions. This is a high standard for a 16-year-old but also great real- world practice. This experience has taught me a lot about what it means to be in the workforce and how Congress functions. There are so many individuals and small nuances that people do not normally think about. Thanks to Co-Curriculum, I got to be part of the behind-
the-scenes efforts and I absolutely loved it.”