Emerald Hood 2020 PEEKE internship was through with EYEJ. She had such a fulfilling experience, she's choosing to work with EYEJ again this year, now that her PEEKE internship is over. Learn more about her internship below:

“They take kids like me from all ages from all around the world and basically we work together to educate the youth and about justice systems and educate ourselves while educating (participants.) We had this all star power program where we took kids and people like me and basically we read books together and we just talked about we had these discussions that usually schools wouldn't allow us to have.”

“My favorite part working with them is getting to hear a side of a story that I've never heard before because usually you're surrounded by people around your age group around your gender and things like that. I’ve never heard someone younger than me talk as eloquently as I thought they would.”

“With your EYEJ I was able to learn more about time management skills because it wasn't just EYEJ, I had SAT practice, ACT practice and my own home life that I had to take care of. (I) developed a new work ethic… I was a secretary in our meetings and youth council meetings. It really required (me) to be on time and to be as detailed as possible. When people ask me questions I have someone I can refer them to or try my best to find a solution for them.”

Emerald is going back to EYEJ as an alumni working on the EYEJ Youth Council. She will be mentoring people and hopes to do something around the arts or in STEM science.

“When I'm older, I plan on being a science teacher, mainly biology, I plan on getting my bachelor's and master's if not doctor's degree after high school. I'd love to be a biology teacher and teach college students and continue learning with them about how things work.”