One morning, Physics professor Dan Poranski informed Bouché’s class of an internship being offered at Massachusetts General Hospital to students who excel in science. As most of the class let the offer drift into one ear and out of the other, Bouché was intrigued. 

            “The career that I go into will definitely be science-related; I've always been very interested in discovering how things work, and that is what science is all about,” explained Bouché. A high-paying internship at such a prestigious institution as Massachusetts General Hospital would certainly be irresistible to anybody aspiring to become a scientist, and Adam was no exception. Being selected for the job would not be easy, however.

            Bouché’s description of the application process for the internship closely resembled that of the college application process. Applicants had to fill out paperwork, write an essay, and send in letters of recommendation to be considered for employment. Adam completed his application and not only was he accepted for the job in June, but he also won the National Kidney Foundation’s Future Achiever Award, an award for students who have excelled academically in science and hold great potential as future scientists. Having earned this award, Bouché was confident he could take on the responsibility of working in a professional environment. 

            Bouché worked under Dr. Paola Pajevic, an Italian scientist who was currently working on several projects regarding bones. A couple of these projects that Adam helped with were an analysis of the role that the parathyroid hormone receptor in mammals and the effect it has on bone development, and an exploration into why astronauts lose bone mass after being exposed to zero gravity in space. Primarily, Adam ran tests involving DNA and RNA, analyzed blood samples, and worked with mice.

            “I also did much histology work (work with tissue). I cut sections of bone to make slides, and I did a lot of slide staining,” added Bouché. 

            The science department of Ipswich High School (especially Ms. Ham) deserves credit for providing Bouché with strong knowledge in science, enabling him to keep pace with the professionals. AP Chemistry class proved particularly helpful.

            “There was a lot of chemistry that needed to be done for the tests we were running. Knowledge of some of the chemicals we used and proper laboratory procedure greatly improved my ability to do my job efficiently,” said Bouché.

            Not only did school improve Adam’s work in the Mass General research labs, but the opposite is also true; his experience in the labs has helped him significantly in school this year. 

            Explains Bouché, “In order to do my job well, I had to learn about and understand chemical and biological concepts that we also discuss in my AP Biology class. Also, working with mice that have many anatomical features similar to humans has improved my knowledge of anatomy, another class that I am taking this semester.”

            Adam Bouché agrees that the internship was a greatly positive experience for him that not only earned him a fortune compared to other students’ summer paychecks, but provided him with valuable exposure to a career in the field of science. Bouché says that his desire to become a scientist has increased since his internship, saying that “it would be great to make a living this way. 

            “The idea of choosing an unexplained phenomenon and conducting tests that you have created to find the answer excites me,” he says.

            “I encourage anyone who is interested in science or medicine to apply for this internship next year. It was an interesting experience, looks great on college applications, and I think it is a much better way to spend the summer than most of the jobs available to high-schoolers.”