Editor
This year, Sandburg is welcoming a new Neuroscience Club called IYNA to its official club roster. IYNA stands for International Youth Neuroscience Association, and is just one chapter in an organization that has hundreds across the globe. From neuropsychology to neurochemistry, from the way we sleep to the way we learn, the goal of IYNA is to help the average student learn about the very organ that keeps us going: the brain.
IYNA’s format is something that is unique to the club and is something common across Sandburg clubs. The club meets bi-monthly for an hour each time on Monday. The first Monday meeting of the month, IYNA welcomes student lectures and guest lecturers alike, and the club anticipates having many lecturers with experience in fields relating to neuroscience speak. Exec board member Elise Dobrzynski says, “These lectures may also inspire people to expand their options for college which is incredibly important as high schoolers look to life a few years from now.” On the 2nd Monday meeting of the month, members can expect an activity-based meeting that aims to interact with each member and help members retain what they have learned. IYNA president Armin Pazooki says, “The second meeting of the month can range from kahoots to group discussions, but the possibilities are endless.” IYNA is always welcoming new members (who can join by texting @cshsiyna to 81010), and a major perk of the club is that it’s executive board has made it very clear that they're always open to member opinions, recommendation, and feedback, and lessons and activities will be based on member recommendations and polls, among other things.
IYNA offers a unique perspective to the average student, whether they aim to go into the medical field or not. Brain functionality is something that affects us everyday, and the benefits of knowing about it are endless whether or not you want to pursue a medical career or not. In fact, IYNA has found that most of its members actually do not want to go into the medical field or become doctors. Ally Boertlein, exec member, says, “IYNA is a great opportunity even for students who aren’t planning on entering the medical field because knowing how our brains function is an asset in any career. For example, knowing psychological cues and triggers can be vital for a career in law enforcement to understand and identify criminals in order to catch them.” And because it is a knowledge-based club meant for sharing ideas that the group finds interesting, there is no competitive aspect to IYNA, unlike many other academic clubs whose main subject may be similar to IYNA. As of now, IYNA meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month from 4 to 5, and is always welcoming new members.
So whether you want to be a neurologist, think neuroscience is interesting, or just find yourself with some extra time, consider joining IYNA. As Elise Dobrzynski puts it, “I think the most exciting parts of the club all revolve around it’s authenticity...Students can get out of the club whatever they want. The atmosphere of the club is incredibly open and comfortable, which I’ve never seen quite the same in another club.”