Program Highlighted | Immunology
Interview with | Jasmine Wong
Date | August 2002
Interview | Jasmine Wong
Jasmine Wong is a fourth year, Innis College Immunology student.
Innis: Would you introduce yourself?
Jasmine: My name is Jasmine Wong and I am a fourth-year, undergraduate student of Innis College, working towards a Specialist in Immunology.
Innis: What attracted you to study Immunology?
Jasmine: I have always been interested in human biology and health and disease, and immunology seemed like a focussed, challenging and interesting way to explore these areas. Also, I considered graduate or professional schooling and knew that doing a specialist and immunology respectively would be good preparation. When I chose immunology, I wasn't absolutely sure it was the right program for me but because it covered a broad selection of topics (genetics, microbiology, biochemistry) and because I knew it would be easier to switch out of than into, I chose it.
Innis: What roles did advice/influence from peers, mentors, relatives, and others play in your decision?
Jasmine: The decision was my own, though I was encouraged by the fact that some of my friends were going into immunology as well. Advice I got from friends who had done immunology was actually not to do it if I wanted high marks!
Innis: Did you ever think of combining Immunology with any other programs?
Jasmine: I considered taking up a minor in humanism or politics but decided not to.
Innis: What aspect(s) of this program do you find fascinating or inspiring - curriculum, professors, practical experience, field courses?
Jasmine: I found a lot of the material and several professors very interesting, especially Dr. Baker (BCH) and Dr. Clark (MBY), who were very funny lecturers. I found the research/real life application and the stories behind the experiments fascinating and the obvious excitement and knowledge professors had for what they taught was inspiring.
Innis: How would you rate the facilities and opportunities offered by this program in the University of Toronto?
Jasmine: I think the facilities and opportunities for people interested in immunology are very good at the University of Toronto. There are many excellent researchers, professors and guest lecturers and the libraries are good. I know of one immunology professor who took on a student and offered the class a contact in the pharmaceutical industry to do immunology-related research as well. What I find is that it's all out there but you have to go find what you want, it won't come to you.
Innis: Of all the courses in this program you have taken so far, which one did you enjoy the most and why? How did the class size or frequency of the interaction with the professor affect how you rated the course?
Jasmine: I enjoyed my immunology (IMM334Y1) the most overall because the material was both varied and interesting. It was also all new material. My immunology class was the largest (around 200-300) whereas most other program classes were 60 (MGB, BCH) or 150(MBY). My immunology professors were accessible through tutorials where the other professors didn't run tutorials and just had office hours and answered questions in and after class, so there's a balance. Personally, I would have preferred classes no bigger than 30 students to a professor.
Innis: How is a science course different from other courses?
Jasmine: You can't get away with not learning the details (and there are SO many details). There are often no required readings or even course texts so attending lectures and taking very good notes is essential. Also, it requires a different kind of intuition.
Innis: What extra-curricular activities have you been involved with on campus since coming to U of T?
Jasmine: I've been on Innis' Residence Council as Junior House Representative and Community Service and Outreach Chair. I've done stage crew for Hart House's drama society and Innis' fashion show, taken dance at Hart House and volunteered at a local school. I'm also a member of Engineers Without Borders, and worked at a lab under Dr. Steven Narod at Sunnybrook Women's Health Sciences Center for over two years.
Innis: Were there any connections between the extra-curricular activities and the programs that you are in?
Jasmine: Tutoring and working employ knowledge from class but otherwise, my extra-curricular activities have not been program related. My upcoming internship (see below) was applied for independently but as it involves HIV/AIDS, it relates directly to what I've studied in virology and immunology.
Innis: Given your heavy course load and organization(s) that you are involved with, how did you manage to organize your time?
Jasmine: I like having a lot to do so I make time. Sometimes that means I work more efficiently when I do work- going to the library to avoid distractions- and sometimes it means copying labs or notes from friends. As the workload got heavier, I did drop some extra-curricular activities as well.
Innis: What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone who is interested in pursuing this program?
Jasmine: Know what you want and what you're getting into. Be prepared for a very research-oriented program. If that's what you want to do in the long-run, and if you're very interested, that's great. If you're just interested in immunology, just take the course; biochemistry, genetics, microbiology and immunology courses are extremely rigorous so if you're not sure, I would recommend against pursuing this program.
Innis: Of all your achievements here at the University of Toronto, which one are you most proud of?
Jasmine: I think working on community service and outreach at the residence was the most personally challenging because there was no precedent set, and it required me to do a lot of things I wouldn't normally have done, and allowed me to try new things and see ideas through.
Innis: As a student in this field, I am sure that you have researched the job market. What kinds of employment opportunities are there?
Jasmine: Primarily, research in academics or pharmaceuticals and further study in medicine. Teaching, work with international health organizations, science programming (for grant allocation or television, for example) or science writing are also possibilities but there are easier ways to get there than through immunology.
Innis: What type of career are you interested in developing in the future?
Jasmine: I would like to work in international health care as a doctor but I am also open to other career paths.
Innis: What steps are you taking to assist you in achieving these goals?
Jasmine: I study hard and work hard at everything I get involved in, but I'd like to think that I do the things I do not to reach my end goal but because I find fulfillment inherently in them. This isn't to say I don't plan, but I think if you do what you like and try to do it well, things tend to fall into place.
Innis: I've heard that you are planning to go on an internship to India. Would you like to tell us about it?
Jasmine: Next year, I will be going on a six-month internship with Canada World Youth (CWY) to do HIV/AIDS education and patient care both here in Toronto and in New Delhi. I first learned of CWY at a study/work abroad fair at Sidney Smith (which happens in September or October ever year). I checked out their website last February (www.cwy-jcm.org) and found they were offering a program for eight Canadian youth and eight Indian youth ages 19-29 to work on grassroots solutions for HIV prevention and AIDS patient care and I knew I wanted to do it. This was the first time I had come across an immunology-related international development project that wasn't aimed at graduate and post-graduate students and the profile of the organization fit what I was looking for. I feel very lucky to have this opportunity and I really hope it works out well.
Innis: Are there any other things you would like to say to Innis students?
Jasmine: I N N I S, innis college is the best... go innis!
On behalf of Innis College I would like to thank you for giving your time so generously …
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