Apart from summer work, college applications, sports, and deserved rest, several Sixth Formers were busy partaking in internships over the summer.
Whether it is researching cells in viral infections or getting a sense of what an office job is like, summer internships for high schoolers are a great way to learn new skills and gain real-world experience.
Sixth Former Harry Koenig, who interned at Jefferson Health, found his internship beneficial. “The internship for me was really important to figure out what I wanted to do in college and beyond, because it gave me real experience and helped me understand a career I was thinking about,” Koenig said.
This summer, Koenig worked with Sixth Formers Finn Kelly, Elliot Lee, Cameron Smith, and Phineas Manogue at Jefferson Health and the University of Pennsylvania. Their work consisted of biology and chemistry research.
“The overall goal of our lab was to research viral infection after orthopedic implants such as a hip replacement,” Koenig said. Each student was then given specific tasks to complete, helping the students get a sense of what research is like.
Koenig mentioned that Haverford played a big role in pushing him toward this internship program.
“I chose to partake in this program because of hearing about similar work that Haverford students had done,” Koenig said. “In addition, a Haverford graduate also worked at Jefferson and the lab I interned at.”
Koenig added that his chemistry and biology classes put him in a better position for his work over the summer.
“[Chemistry and biology classes at Haverford] were able to incorporate material on things that are actually done in most labs today,” Koenig said. “In addition, we were able to perform our own experiments, which helped me adapt easier to the environment in the lab.”
Similarly, Sixth Former Zach Dixon had an opportunity to intern at the endocrinology wing at CHOP Hospital, studying how different substances can trigger hyperinsulinism, which is a rare disorder.
“[My internship] helped me get a sense of what a profession as a researcher might look like. Because of what I learned from the lab, I am in a better position for college and any career.”
Zach Dixon ’25
Dixon worked with two MD-Ph.D.s conducting experiments and working with animals to gather data towards their research.
Working four-to-seven hours a day, five days a week, Dixon gained experience in a field he is interested in for college and beyond.
“I intend to go pre-med, so learning how to work in a biology lab is very beneficial,” Dixon said. “On top of that, [my internship] helped me get a sense of what a profession as a researcher might look like. Because of what I learned from the lab, I am in a better position for college and any career beyond that.”
Not all internships have to revolve around intense and rigorous research, however.
Sixth Former Matthew Yerger had an internship at a law firm in Philadelphia. Apart from doing moderate office work, the main reason he took this opportunity, he said, was “shadowing the lawyers I got to sit in on depositions and watch expert witnesses testify.”
“This internship more than anything was mostly me trying to get a basic understanding of the dynamics of a law office and what being a lawyer actually looks like,” Yerger said. “I am grateful I took the time to get a basic understanding of the profession I want to go into.”
