In my senior year of college I took a philosophy class called the Ethics of Eating. It was an incredible class, however, I have a distinct memory of leaving each day extremely frustrated, my beliefs and values turned upside down by lectures, documentaries, and discussions. I usually left with more questions than I had come in with. Apparently, this is how philosophy classes are supposed to be.

Over the past year I have learned an immense about Detroit. In hindsight though, I feel like I just completed another philosophy class; I am left with infinitely more questions than I started with.

Through Challenge Detroit, I was forced outside of my comfort zone physically and emotionally. I explored history, art, and music in ways I never would have on my own. I met incredible individuals and saw the real struggles of so many others. I discussed deeply rooted socioeconomic issues and even made strides to help overcome some them during our Challenges. I heard hundreds of first-hand accounts of what so many are calling “Detroit’s Comeback” and yet I do not feel as though I can provide any answers. When asked to describe Detroit, I smile as I think about my experiences over the past year. And then I sigh because I know that my descriptions will not do Detroit justice.

Challenge Detroit was a great way to get my feet wet in Detroit and see how deep the water really is. To make a lasting impact though, I need to submerge myself in the water. I need to begin to ask the infinite questions that run through my mind as I fall asleep each night. Even if these questions only lead to more questions, I feel like it is my responsibility to ask as a newcomer. It would be easy to transition into my new role at GM and leave the City behind. But I do not want to just take from Detroit. I want to be an active resident who is ready to stand up for what is right. And in order to do so, I need to discover what I believe in and who I stand behind. If I end each day with more questions than I woke up with, I will know that I am making progress.