Introducing: EMEAC's Semester in Detroit Intern, Emily McMahan
June 10, 2013
We at EMEAC are thrilled to welcome Semester in Detroit intern, Emily McMahan into our community! Semester in Detroit is an internship program that works to transform students attending the University of Michigan through reciprocal relationships with the people, organizations and neighborhoods of Detroit. By living, learning and working in the city, the students engage with community leaders in transformative work-stregnthening themselves as well as the wider region. You can find out more about the program here.
Please say hello to Emily!
Where are you from: Commerce Twp., MI
What are you studying at the University of Michigan?
I'm in the Program in the Environment, with a specialization in Consumer Culture.
Why did you choose Semester in Detroit?
I first attended an informational meeting about Semester in Detroit because I thought it was going to fill a credit for graduation. After the meeting though, I knew it was going to be more than that for me. I couldn't resist the idea of taking classes, interning, and just living in such an amazing and complex city like Detroit. I really wanted the chance to learn about the city first-hand while gaining experience as an intern at the same time.
You chose to work with EMEAC for your internship. What made you choose EMEAC?
I chose EMEAC because the project and organization descriptions were so interesting. I had heard of EMEAC before, but wasn't really aware of how much is actually happening! An environmental organization striving to do so much good in so many areas is definitely the place I wanted to be.
What are your goals for Semester in Detroit?
I'm hoping to learn about the city of Detroit on my own terms - everyone always has their own opinions to share, but I really think it's impossible to get the whole picture from biased sources. Many people have bad things to say and many people have good things to say about Detroit, so I feel like living here myself is the best way to form my own opinion. Of course I only have a couple months here so I won't possibly get the whole picture, but it's a start. I also am really looking forward to being a part of the amazing organization that is EMEAC. I feel like it's a great place to help expand my ideas about environmental problems and solutions in cities and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help make progress with those solutions in whatever way I can.
Any plans for after graduation?
As of right now, I'm planning to find a job (preferably in an environmental organization!). I am graduating a semester early (so I'll be done in December 2013), which makes "the real world" after college seem a lot closer and more overwhelming. Other than that, I don't really know - I'm just going to go wherever life takes me and hope for the best.
Tell us something about yourself?
I'm a member of the Michigan Marching Band, as well as a board member for a kindness organization on campus called Do Random Acts of Kindness. I have met so many great people and have learned so much about myself through both of these groups, and I really think it's made me a better person to be so involved on campus with such amazing people.
