Summer at City Hall

What’s it really like to work in local government?

In this episode of Milton and Mane, host Christy Weeks is joined by Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno and the newest summer interns, Jayda Braithwaite and Drew Ghent to talk about their firsthand experience inside City Hall.  Just days into their internships, Jayda and Drew discuss what sparked their interest in public service, what they expect to learn, and what they're most excited to experience during their time with the City. 

The conversation also explores how young professionals view public service, leadership, and the expectations facing their generation. Along the way, you'll hear a few personal favorites, some rapid-fire fun, and fresh perspectives on the community they call home.

With the community in mind, this podcast explores the stories, people, and initiatives that make our community unique. Each episode offers insights into local government, highlights Milton's history and future developments, and showcases the vibrant arts, culture, and sustainability efforts shaping our city. Join the conversation, celebrate our community, and discover how we're building a better Milton together.

Do you have an idea for an episode or would like to request a specific topic to be covered? Email Christy Weeks, christy.weeks@miltonga.gov

Learn more about the City of Milton at www.miltonga.gov. 

Transcript

Welcome To Milton And Maine

SPEAKER_05 0:07

Welcome to Milton and Maine, the official podcast for the city of Milton. We want to bring you closer to the heart of our community through stories that inform, inspire, and connect. Each episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people, projects, and priorities shaping Milton. Covering everything from local government and future development to arts, culture, sustainability, and public safety. Whether you're a resident, a local business owner, or just curious about our city, this is your front row seat to what makes Milton special. Welcome back to Milton and Maine, the podcast where we talk with the people who help make Milton what it is. Today's episode is a little different because we're introducing two of the newest faces around City Hall, our summer interns. We have Jada Braithwaite and we have Drew Gent. Internships are often where careers begin. They're a chance to learn, ask questions, make connections, and sometimes discover what you don't want to do just as much as what you do. Today we'll get to know our interns, hear about their backgrounds, learn what brought them to Milton, and talk about their goals for the future. We'll also find out what they're hoping to gain from this summer and what they're most excited to experience along the way. So let's jump in. I've got Emily Salerno, our community outreach event extraordinaire.

SPEAKER_02 1:27

Just keep drawing words in. It's pretty accurate.

SPEAKER_05 1:29

Perfect planner, busy person, and all the energy up on the second floor here at City Hall. I have Emily with us to help guide this conversation as she oversees the internship program. And let's see who is spending the summer serving us right here in Milton. You ready to go? Let's do it. All right. Tell us who you are, Emily, just to refresh everybody's mind

Emily On Events And Internships

SPEAKER_05 1:55

because this is season two and it's been a hot minute since you've been on.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

I know. I hope everybody remembers who I am. Um, if not, like Chris, you said, my name is Emily Slorno. I'm our community outreach manager here with the city. My main job is I plan all of our annual community events. I do Crab Apple Fest, Red White, and U, Touch a Truck, Meet the Neighbors. I feel like all the fun ones. We're doing some World Cup watch parties this summer as well. So that's a function.

SPEAKER_05 2:24

Speaking up too, right around the corner. Right around the corner. Give her a plug. You're on air.

SPEAKER_02 2:28

I can't wait. So we'll see you July 19th on the green from one to five. But another part of my job is I handle a lot of our community outreach initiatives, working with schools, volunteer groups, and I also get to see our internship program. So every summer we hire two typically undergrad college students for about nine to ten weeks over the summer. And I always say it's much more than a coffee internship because if they were to get me coffee, I would not complain. But they are actually going to do however, however, big meaningful projects that have actually benefited the city. Many of our interns' previous work, we have used it as kind of a jumping off point. And so some of their programs and policies and things that they have put in place, we still use for today. So we try and make sure that our interns are extensions of ourselves and get as much out of the internship as possible.

SPEAKER_05 3:19

We still see traces of last year's. Every once in a while, I see a sign or a flyer or something that was done and always appreciate the insight. Sorry, young people insight is always important simply because I'm old.

SPEAKER_02 3:34

It's so true.

SPEAKER_05 3:35

The old part, the old part. You're right. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Thanks. But the young people insight. Young people insight. You guys bring a whole new energy and a whole new perspective to stuff. So let's meet our interns.

Meet Jada And Drew

SPEAKER_05 3:48

Jada, tell us about yourself.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

My name is Jada Braithwaite. I am going to be a senior at the University of North Georgia. I'm studying political science as well as minoring in journalism.

SPEAKER_05 4:00

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 4:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:01

Wow. Why political science?

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Honestly, when I first applied to like a bunch of colleges and whatnot, I actually applied as a journalism major. And then I switched up at the last minute. I just have always had this kind of passion for politics and all things political. And I was like, I think I want to translate that when I get to college. And I've learned that it's so much more than just all of the surface level things that you see on the news. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 4:28

My minor is political science.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

Okay. Okay, nice.

SPEAKER_05 4:30

Now keep in mind, I got mine uh a mere. I finished my degree a mere five years ago because I took a 30-year gap year.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Nothing wrong with that.

SPEAKER_05 4:41

Nope. Nope. Learned a lot. You come in with a whole new perspective when you're in college second time around. So Drew.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

Hey, I'm Drew Gen. I am going into my junior year at the University of Georgia, where I'm a communication studies major, just like someone else here at the table.

SPEAKER_02 4:58

Go dogs, that would be mean.

SPEAKER_00 5:00

And a philosophy minor as well. On campus, I'm also involved with the undergraduate law review and I'm a rower on the club rowing team. Uh just been like an all-around amazing experience so far. Wow. UGA, when it came down to it, I'm so grateful to be able to participate in the Zell Miller Scholarship Program, which was a big reason that I stayed there, especially as I kind of hone in on my law school aspirations. It was really important to me that I think very long term when it came to finding out where I was going to spend my undergraduate years. But, you know, beyond the financial aspect of it, UGA just has some amazing programs that I've been able to tap into. The honors college has been a phenomenal resource for me. And I have to admit that my dad, being a dog and growing up a dog, definitely played a part in that as well.

SPEAKER_05 5:48

Generally, there's no other option. My youngest son went to UGA. So Jada, why UNG?

SPEAKER_01 5:54

I chose UNG because I didn't want to be like terribly far from home, but I also wanted to be far enough away where it felt a little bit out of reach. And I went and visited the campus and I immediately fell in love with it. It was on a like a disgusting rainy day, and I still just absolutely loved it. Yeah. And just being in like a smaller community is always something that's a good thing. You're up in Delonaga, yeah. Yes. Yeah. Um, like growing up, I went to private school for all of elementary school and a little bit of middle school. And then I transferred to public school, and I just always kind of had a harder time in that like big classroom setting. Yeah. So going to a college where the student to professor ratio was just a little bit smaller.

SPEAKER_05 6:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:39

It has just been so much better for me because I learn better when I'm able to have a more like intimate personal connection with a professor. And I can actually, they know my name in class and I can go up to them or go to their office hours and they can actually walk me through the material without me being just a number. Like they actually recognize my face and my personality. And that's been something that I've just loved so much about UNG because the culture of it is just so small and connected because everybody really loves it up there in our little gold mining town.

SPEAKER_05 7:09

They do. Um G was lovely. Like I said, my son went there. He started out at Reinhardt, thought it was going to be a great fit. He played football for him. It was during those unfortunate years uh where everything was shut down. So um COVID kind of stole a little from his first year experience. And he said, I think I'm gonna transfer. All my friends are at UNG. I said, do it. Go. And he loved it. I think if he could have figured out a way to stay in school with what he studied for longer, he probably would have stayed in Delonica for that. So all

How The City Picks Interns

SPEAKER_05 7:44

right. Emily, give us a rundown as to when you're looking at all these applications, because my understanding is that there were a slew of them.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

I'm trying to remember the exact number, but I want to say we had between 60 to 80 applications. Somehow, holy cow.

SPEAKER_05 8:03

I had no idea. Oh, it's wild. I'm thinking 20, 30 over here.

SPEAKER_02 8:07

My email was popping for about three weeks. Is that why I didn't see you? Probably. I was in so many interviews. And it was so hard to kind of narrow that down. I mean, every almost every single resume and application and cover letter that I read through are these insane, high-achieving kids that are not only fulfilling their major and their classes, but they're also connected to every outside school group and these sports and athletics and activities, and they volunteer and they don't sleep. And I think they get like two hours of sleep and then just hope for the best. Meanwhile, if I get less than 10, you don't want to mess with me. So it was true facts. It's so true. Uh yeah, sorry. I'm in school. Me too. I can take it. But I mean, narrowing down was next to impossible.

SPEAKER_05 8:58

Right. So it was very difficult. Here's me pulling out my old resume, blowing the dust off it, going, okay, I don't have a quarter of what these these interns have.

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Oh, for sure. Meanwhile, I'm trying to make my resume sound super awesome. There's only so many ways I can rephrase something to make it look like I did more.

SPEAKER_05 9:16

How do I rephrase event planning to make it sound?

SPEAKER_02 9:21

And they said I couldn't just use I'm awesome as like a resume, but whatever.

SPEAKER_05 9:26

I say you can. Thank you. I appreciate that. I have uh if you ever need review, I'll help you out on that. Yeah, you bet. All right, y'all. So you both grew up in Milton. You both went to Cambridge. Tell us a quick snippet as to what that was like.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

But I did enjoy going to Cambridge.

SPEAKER_05 9:43

Cambridge is a cool school. We looked at it when we moved here for my boys to go there.

SPEAKER_01 9:47

I mean, honestly, like I feel like compared to maybe some others, Cambridge just also has a really great environment. I personally had some really great teachers the whole time I was there. And I think Milton really does a good job of like building this good sense of community amongst like everybody.

SPEAKER_05 10:07

Doesn't matter which high school you go to, does it? I mean Milton itself.

SPEAKER_01 10:10

Yes. And everybody just, I mean, I had a very positive experience. I would say my senior year of high school was probably my favorite. I was the most involved, had a really great group of friends, and we're all still like very much in touch to this day. Yeah. True.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

Yeah, I would say I'm lucky enough to be able to say that I gratefully did not peak in high school, but I am so grateful for the opportunities that Cambridge did provide for me, both, you know, academically. I think they have some some really, really great programs, a really great slate of APs, a really great slate of honor societies. As an athlete there, I just had a phenomenal experience with the entire staff across the board, extracurriculars. Uh, I was a mock trial competitor as well. It just gave me the perfect foundation, I think, to figure out what I wanted to do after I graduated high school and even professionally beyond that. I still find myself impacted by that experience.

SPEAKER_05 11:03

That's cool. That's kind of what high school is supposed to do. It's not supposed to be the end-all be-all. It's supposed to introduce you and get you prepared for when you step out and you figure out what you do, what you don't like, where you're gonna go, what the path looks like. And along the way, there's curves in the road. Hills, hills, sometimes mountains, sometimes the bridges out, sometimes the bridges having to have a couple of things. Yeah, I have come across that more than once in my life. So Juda, we know why you kind of picked political science and

Career Goals And Big Dreams

SPEAKER_05 11:41

stuff. Where do you see yourself in five years?

SPEAKER_01 11:45

Honestly, I see myself in a place where I'm able to write a lot. I think writing is something that I'm also very passionate about, hence the journalism minor, it's where I feel the most comfortable academically. And I just know that I can thrive when I'm able to have a pen and paper in my hand. So if I'm able to be in a working environment where I can use my ability of being a strong writer in order to excel, it's important. Then I think it's gonna be this gonna be a good spot for me.

SPEAKER_05 12:19

Right on. Drew, you mentioned law school.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

Yeah, so five years down the line, hopefully just about a year removed from law school. And I still am trying to kind of hone in on what professionally that will bring me to. But I do know that, as you mentioned, born and raised in Milton, and as much as I love it here, I think it's time for me to find some place kind of where I can explore and find my own voice individually, whether that's another state or you know, after studying abroad for the last few months, maybe another country where I can.

SPEAKER_04 12:52

Where were you at?

SPEAKER_00 12:53

Uh so I studied for a couple months at the University of Oxford in the UK, and then got the opportunity to spend another month in Italy.

SPEAKER_05 13:02

Yeah, my son did that program.

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 13:05

Twice.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

Yeah, and I see why. Uh I would go back in a heartbeat if I could. And actually, funny enough, I think Emily knows my roommate at Oxford was y'all's intern last year, Luke. Luke and the phenomenal opportunity to connect with him.

SPEAKER_05 13:19

And he's a good kid.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

Yeah, certainly, certainly.

SPEAKER_05 13:22

I I learned a lot from him. I know. We don't we all did. We all learned a lot from Luke. He was he was a magician on ClearGov.

SPEAKER_02 13:31

I know. And I feel like I've been calling Drew like Luke 2.0, like the next one. Very similar in your mannerisms and the way you work and the way you speak. So it makes sense that you guys both did mock trial.

SPEAKER_05 13:42

Yeah, that program that UGA has to study abroad is amazing. Like I said, my son went twice and then got asked to come back as I want to say chaperone, but I know that's not the right word, but somebody that would shadow the students and be there and and help them.

SPEAKER_02 14:00

And um Harry Potter lover in me wants to be like, was he like head boy? Was he a prefect?

SPEAKER_00 14:05

There are it was it for the Oxford programs?

SPEAKER_05 14:08

No, not Oxford, it was Cortona.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Oh, for Cortona. Oh, yeah. He only spent a couple days.

SPEAKER_05 14:14

I think the second time he went, they only spent maybe four or five days at Oxford before they went off to Cortona.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Yeah, so that's a little bit of the mirror program of what I did, uh, which is a really, really great opportunity as well to see both the academic environment and the life in the UK, which was, I think, a phenomenal place for me personally, to spend the majority of my time there. But I was so beyond lucky to have the opportunity to study in Italy as well. And, you know, as cliche as it is, experience that culture, it was much slower, much calmer, and it was a really great kind of mental reset after the academic intensity of all.

SPEAKER_05 14:50

For sure.

What Local Government Teaches Fast

SPEAKER_05 14:51

So let's talk about what you all, when you applied for this, what did you think this internship was about? No cheating from talking to Luke. Before you knew did you go to school with him before or after you apply?

SPEAKER_00 15:10

I I did not go to high school with him. No, no, no, no. Oh, yeah, so in Oxford, was it before or after? He was who introduced me to this internship, actually, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_05 15:18

You're eliminated from this. Shayda, this question is for you. What do you think this is about? What are you expecting to get out of it?

SPEAKER_01 15:28

Um, honestly, I'm really just wanting to know so much more about local government. Now I just really want to like soak up as much knowledge as I can. Yeah. We've only been here for like a week and two days, and I feel like I've learned so much already. It's I would say local government especially is so much more nuanced and detailed than I would have imagined. For sure. Like there are so many little things that go into absolutely everything that when you're just being like an average citizen in your city, you wouldn't think twice about it. And now I feel like I'm gonna look at Milton and honestly every city so much differently. And I know that's gonna change even more like as this internship goes on.

SPEAKER_05 16:06

So yeah, it was for me. You learn how to look at it through a different lens that addresses everybody and all of the citizens and the entire community as a whole versus your autonomy that when you live in a community, you know what you know. And this has this has been a great experience.

Intern Projects Across City Departments

SPEAKER_05 16:26

So, Emily, tell us about how you select the projects that they work on.

SPEAKER_02 16:30

What is their we always do? Um, I call it sending out the bat signal uh to our department heads. I mean, like we were just talking about, there's a million different projects going on in the city at any given time. So um we'll reach out to our department heads and see what they've got going on and see where they could use some help and some research and um people to really either help start a project or look into the ways that we could possibly go about it. Um, and I always tell them, I was like, my goal is to have them touch as many of the departments as possible. Some are more difficult than others. Finance is a tricky one to have interns into, believe me, I wouldn't even want to touch finance. And then I mean, they'll do everything from going on a ride along with police to handling day of coordination for our Red, White, and U event to working with businesses, to um taking pictures of signs to help out code enforcement. I mean, they're all over the place within the city. So that's awesome. We really make sure that they leave at least having a little bit of knowledge on every department and how we all work together. Cause I think that's somewhere and something that Milton really thrives upon. And I think so many other cities have their departments very siloed when a lot of what they do is crossover a lot. So I think with the city of Milton, we do a really good job of cross-department collaboration and working together and everybody's favorite group project teamwork.

SPEAKER_05 18:05

Drew, tell me what you hoped to learn while you're here. What are you most interested in?

SPEAKER_00 18:13

So I think like part of what my experience here already, like Jada was saying, in the past week and a half or so, has already shown me that I have a lot to gain from this internship in terms of just becoming a better citizen, becoming a more informed citizen. I think having your feet on the ground in local government just gives you a really great idea about all the different people and all the different moving parts and all the different departments it takes to make even just, you know, a small city or medium city like Milton work. And I think that's something that is maybe lost on the average citizen, especially when you advance government to the county, state, national level. A lot of the same bodies are at play just on a different scale. Correct. And so I'm really excited to apply what I'm learning here in the office to maybe my more, you know, private life with how I engage with the government.

SPEAKER_05 19:05

That's that's a really good answer. And the thing of it is is that it's not just one person sitting there signing documents. It it does not matter what it happens around here. There is a crew of people from multiple departments on almost every issue that come together to develop it. And so the knowledge that you y'all will get from being here will serve you not only in a professional but in a personal because you'll it'll change your perspective on how you see, like Drew just said. So I respect that. Luke 2.0. Told you. You smart children. Smart children.

Favorite Milton Spots And Memories

SPEAKER_05 19:50

What's your favorite place in Milton?

SPEAKER_00 19:52

Okay, I might be a little biased, but I love Bell Memorial Park, and I promise that's not just because my Eagle Scout project is there.

SPEAKER_05 19:59

Thank you, Thomas.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Um, but yeah, I mean, I I grew up going to Bell. Bell was a very central part of my high school experience as well as a runner. Loved the trails, you know, as just someone in the community that used to live right nearby it before I started to live, you know, one street down here from City Hall. It was somewhere I went with my friends a lot. It's just a great central location, I think. And I think it speaks a lot to the direction that Milton is headed, uh, especially as we begin to build out the Deerfield area.

SPEAKER_05 20:27

Yeah. Yeah. Before when we first moved here, which was nine years ago, my youngest son was a kicker. My other son was football player as well, but I didn't know where to go in Cherokee County. So we went to Bell Memorial because I knew how to get there. Because one of the few places I knew how to get without GPS. Mind you, I just eliminated that out of my usage to get around Milton, at least to the police station. I can now get to PD and Fire without GPS. Nice. I've only been here two years. Thank you. Jada, how about you? Favorite place?

SPEAKER_01 21:04

Um, okay. I think so I got two answers. The first, I probably would have to say honestly, like downtown Crab Apple, just because I've grown up only like 10 minutes around the corner from here, and just seeing how much it's changed throughout the years too has been really cool. Um, I have some really great memories of going to Scoops, the ice cream place when it used to be here. That was like a million years ago, it seems like, but it's not here anymore. But good memories, good memories.

SPEAKER_05 21:30

Good memories, area area-wise. I could see why this would draw this draws a lot of young people down here, especially after school, you see all yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:38

My friends and I used to like come down here and walk around and just hang out and I loved it. Good memories. It's a great place. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:44

It's a great place. True. I love it.

Milton This Or That Game

SPEAKER_05 21:47

All right, we gotta we're gonna do a little this or that. Milton edition. Okay. Cambridge football game or basketball game?

SPEAKER_01 21:57

Football game.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

Ooh, I have to go with basketball game.

SPEAKER_05 22:00

Mmm, interesting. Summer in Milton or fall in Milton.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

Fall.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Fall. It's too hot here in the summer.

SPEAKER_05 22:08

Y'all are not y'all are absolutely out your mind. I know you love fall. I moved here for summer and I feel like nobody told me it gets cold. It's not in the brochure. Just so you know, it is not in the Georgia brochure that it gets cold in the south.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

It gets cold for like 24 hours. Georgia's very bipolar.

SPEAKER_05 22:27

You are out of your mind. Your temperature gauge is off because I can promise you that it was cold this winter and chillier winter than normal. How grumpy was I over here in the corner?

SPEAKER_02 22:38

Oh, pretty grumpy.

SPEAKER_05 22:39

I was pretty grumpy. Even Jen Jen expressed concern. She goes, I'm really concerned for you for the winter. Do you have do you have a backup plan for the lake? Well, it was just a little Oscar the Grouch in the corner for a little while. I wonder nobody would talk to me.

SPEAKER_00 22:55

I also feel like the summer has not provided the best views. We've had a lot of rain the past couple of weeks. And I feel like falls here are gorgeous. I'll take it gorgeous.

SPEAKER_05 23:03

Yeah, it's true. I I'm not gonna argue with the pretty falls, but I do like a little warmth and I do like humidity. We can talk about it later on a different podcast.

SPEAKER_02 23:13

One of my favorite pictures of Milton, and I'm 99% positive that I took it on one of my walks, is a picture that's hanging right outside the Milton room. This one right here, where half the side of the street is green and the other half was completely red.

SPEAKER_04 23:26

Oh, I do love that.

SPEAKER_02 23:28

It's the coolest picture and the coolest moment. So if you ever need a good walk, the neighborhood behind City Hall is the best.

SPEAKER_05 23:34

Gotcha. Good to know. All right. Morning person or night owl? I'm a night owl.

SPEAKER_00 23:39

Night owl for sure. Seriously? Yeah. Our first couple early mornings here were a little rough for me. I think that's an adjustment.

SPEAKER_02 23:47

That's a young person thing, though. Young people are night owls by nature.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

I won't say I'm not a morning person. Like, I definitely don't like to get up, but once I'm up, I'm up.

SPEAKER_02 23:58

Like it doesn't take what is your most productive hour of the day when you're like, for me, 9 a.m. I'm getting it. I'm getting my stuff done. My to-dos are done. Like, what is your optimum time of day to do work? Probably like 10 a.m. I would say.

SPEAKER_00 24:17

Oh, see, I'm I'm like an 8 p.m. person. At school, especially.

SPEAKER_05 24:22

Closed at 8 p.m., Drew.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

I know. I know.

SPEAKER_02 24:26

I'm I'm legitimately falling asleep on the couch by 8 p.m.

SPEAKER_01 24:30

I'm running out of steam by three o'clock. I don't schedule myself to have any classes after 3 p.m. because my brain shuts off.

SPEAKER_00 24:37

So I'm flexible and I'm making it work. If I have my coffee in the morning, that's fine. But like Emily was saying, like this is much more than a coffee internship, meaning sometimes I don't have time for my coffee in the morning, but we make it work.

SPEAKER_02 24:50

Oh no, take take time for your coffee in the morning, Drew.

SPEAKER_05 24:53

Yeah, take time allowing it. You're gonna need it. Uh, because 8 30 at night, this girl is getting ready to put the cat away. I'm changing into my pajamas.

SPEAKER_02 25:02

I'm going, yeah, it's almost you 100% just described a cat lady.

SPEAKER_05 25:07

I am a cat lady. And my husband hates cats. And I have the coolest cat on the planet. He's literally my best friend. That's cool. Anyway, more than you needed. Lake day or mountain day? Oh, lake day.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

Lake day.

SPEAKER_05 25:21

100%. Bless you, children. Bless you. Instagram, TikTok.

SPEAKER_00 25:24

Instagram.

SPEAKER_01 25:25

I'm really bad when it comes to doom scrolling, so I'm gonna have to say TikTok.

SPEAKER_05 25:29

Yeah. Yeah. TikTok sucks you in. Problem is that you get off on one tangent and your whole feed ends up being all of that. And I would still I have a lot of interest. And I mean, so I would like to see all of it, not just 800 videos on cats. Cats.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

You have to speak it into your phone. You'd say, wow, I want to see a video about this, and it'll magically appear. Oh, for sure.

SPEAKER_05 25:53

Anyway, text message or phone call?

SPEAKER_01 25:56

Phone call.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

Text message. Ooh.

SPEAKER_05 25:58

Ooh, I'm with Drew.

SPEAKER_01 25:59

I uh cold call my friends all the time.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

Oh, that's crazy. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 26:03

If I need to know something, I'm calling and they better pick up. How about you? Text message all day. I'm a millennial.

SPEAKER_00 26:09

Don't be doing that to me.

SPEAKER_02 26:10

I'm gonna do that now. You're not gonna get my best self-free surprise attack you with a phone call. People will ask me to call them back and I will email them back instead. That is suffices.

SPEAKER_00 26:19

See, I think email over text message.

SPEAKER_02 26:21

Wait a minute.

SPEAKER_00 26:22

I love a good email.

SPEAKER_05 26:23

Back this truck up. Sorry. You're a communications major, buddy.

SPEAKER_00 26:27

Okay, yes. I and my heart lies in public speaking. I do not count phone calls as public speaking. It's true. I count phone calls as confrontation.

SPEAKER_02 26:36

Preach. Wow. Oh, well, I'm kind of a confrontational person. So maybe that's why I like a phone call. Well, and the communication studies program at UGA focuses highly on rhetoric. So we're not doing yes, you have to take a public speaking class, but depending on the route you go within Calm Studies, it's a lot of rhetoric, I would say. So you don't do a lot of interpersonal communication.

SPEAKER_05 26:57

Kind of important in communications.

SPEAKER_02 26:59

I know, and I'm a community outreach manager. But I would rather talk to people face to face. I will say that. I would rather schedule a meeting, talk to them face to face versus a phone call. It's awkward, and I don't know your mannerisms or what's happening.

SPEAKER_05 27:10

So all right. Couple more of these just because they entertain me and I love the answers. Concert or sporting event?

SPEAKER_01 27:18

Concert.

SPEAKER_00 27:19

Concert 100% of the time.

SPEAKER_05 27:21

Favorite concert?

SPEAKER_01 27:23

Pitbull.

SPEAKER_05 27:24

Oh at a Maris Amphitheater. I bet that five years ago awesome.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

Iggy Azalea opened. It was like two concerts in one. Wow. It was the greatest thing.

SPEAKER_05 27:33

Wow. How about you, Drew?

SPEAKER_00 27:35

I I got to see Taylor Swift on the Eros Tour, and I feel like that's kind of the default answer. It has to be.

SPEAKER_05 27:41

Holy cow. So good. Does anybody want to know what mine is? What's yours? I'm excited. Kid Rock. I saw Kid Rock at Amaris in 2020. And I I will tell you, he is the only artist I will ever pay money to go see simply because the guy still performs like he did when he was 20.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

This is true. I'm gonna have to go with Justin Timberlake personally. I've been to like three of his concerts now. Incredible shows.

SPEAKER_05 28:13

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 28:13

10 out of 10 for me. Or 20 out of 20 if you get it.

SPEAKER_05 28:16

I could see that. I could see that. All of those are really great artists. I mean, not that there aren't other artists that I would want to see, but I would I'm not a huge concert be in a bunch of people area. That's why I don't go to like big football games, like professional games, because I would rather watch it on TV so I can see what's happening.

SPEAKER_02 28:37

I would agree with that. Otherwise, I can't see the ball.

SPEAKER_05 28:39

Right. I have to see the ball. Otherwise, otherwise, then I'm just sitting in the stadium looking at a bunch of people running around the field and I can't find the ball because I can't see that far.

SPEAKER_02 28:48

And then I yell at the wrong time. Right? Embarrassing.

SPEAKER_05 28:51

I was a cheerleader. We used to get in trouble for that. Oops.

unknown 28:53

Oops.

SPEAKER_05 28:54

Cool. Let's see.

Gen Z Pressure And Motivation

SPEAKER_05 28:56

So, Emily, what what do we need to know from them?

SPEAKER_00 29:00

I feel like we're really interesting people. There's gotta be something you can do. I know.

SPEAKER_03 29:03

Oh my gosh, you guys. Oh great quest. Here we go.

SPEAKER_05 29:10

What what generation are you guys considered? Gen Z. Gen Z. Okay. Um what is one word to describe Gen Z.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

There's so many.

SPEAKER_03 29:24

Just one, Jada. Just one. Okay. I don't know. You have my head spinning.

SPEAKER_05 29:37

Do you want me to give you my perspective? Yes. I think y'all are super intuitive and very um missing words here. It's uh eager to learn, eager to do more, go more, see more. Go-getters. Go-getters, very motivated. Self-motivated. That's how I see y'all.

SPEAKER_01 30:04

Gen Z is tends to be very intuitive and informed and persistent. Maybe so.

SPEAKER_05 30:13

I think persistent is good. That's a good one. Persistence is good. Anything to add there?

SPEAKER_00 30:18

I would say, and I think this goes hand in hand with all that. I think we're all maybe a little overachieving because we're to a degree expected to be at this point. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I think there's so much out there for us to achieve that. But that's a great topic.

SPEAKER_05 30:37

And I'm glad you brought that up because there is an unbelievable amount of pressure put on y'all while you're in school to check all the boxes in order to get where you think you're going to go. And I think I started seeing it more with my youngest son than I did my two older. But I think you're right. So you guys feel a lot of pressure, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, to keep doing more. Does that get in the way of you all enjoying the moment?

SPEAKER_01 31:17

I would definitely say yes. At least when I'm at school, I am extremely involved in a lot of extracurriculars. On top of my academics, I'm very involved with uh the Greek life that we have on campus. But I'm now serving on Panalynic. So on top of my own chapter, I have six more to worry about. Right. Um, and I just am like constantly going all the time. So it feels like a lot sometimes.

SPEAKER_05 31:40

I bet. I bet it does. Do you have anything you want to add to that, Drew?

SPEAKER_00 31:45

Yeah, I mean, I definitely think to a degree, pressure makes diamonds. And I'm very grateful for the opportunity, or rather, all the opportunities I've had to take advantage of all these different programs and stuff. And I think to uh to a degree we're we're we're driven by expectations.

SPEAKER_05 32:03

We are very driven.

SPEAKER_00 32:04

But I think it gets to a certain point where, you know, so many opportunities and so many expectations do begin to become detrimental. I know that I have had a hard time stepping away from things, even if I felt that they didn't particularly serve me as, you know, an extracurricular or some other activity I'm involved in, just because there's this sense that, well, if you're not doing everything, what are you doing?

SPEAKER_05 32:33

When, you know, I think Is that generated from you internally, or is that from your outside sources, your surroundings, your people you're around?

SPEAKER_00 32:42

I would say it's pretty internal, but I think it's a product of the environment. I don't think I would think this way internally if there wasn't some sort of external source for it. But maybe I carry it with me continually by my own volition. Um But yeah, I will say I I think there are many situations in which less is more, but sometimes we don't always allow ourselves the opportunity to try and see what less would be like.

SPEAKER_02 33:09

So it's so funny is I feel the opposite. Like when you asked, what's one word to describe it, describe Gen Z, I'm gonna use the word rule breakers because I think as a millennial, we are doing everything that you just explained. We are yes men, we will say yes to anything, we are going to get things done. But I feel like Gen Z has been the first generation to come around and ask, well, why are we doing it this way? Right. And why just because we've been doing it the same way over and over, like, can you tell me why we're doing that? And us millennials who are yes men say, well, that's just the way it's always been done. And then Gen Z comes around and they're like, well, what if we did it this way instead? And it's better and more efficient and more intelligent and significantly more intuitive. So, hey, I think in like 20 years, Gen Z is gonna make it. So we don't have a true 40-hour in-office work week. I feel like we're gonna have this like cool hybrid model.

SPEAKER_05 34:02

You mean that's not gonna happen by the end of the summer?

SPEAKER_02 34:04

I'll try.

SPEAKER_05 34:05

Okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 34:06

But I think Gen Z is the cool the one that's asking why. Exactly.

Role Models And Purposeful Work

SPEAKER_02 34:11

So whose career or work personality? This can be anybody. We're talking celebrity, people in office, people you know, neighbors, friends, whoever.

SPEAKER_05 34:23

The communications manager here at Milton, I whatever.

SPEAKER_02 34:26

Yeah, for sure. That as that as well. Whose career do you look at and admire and say, I like the way that they did this. I want to imitate what they've done and use some of the strategies that they've done as well.

SPEAKER_00 34:41

I feel like maybe this is a bit of a cheat, or maybe it's just top of mind because we've been so blessed to be in the Parks and Rec department. But I find myself, weirdly enough, constantly inspired by Leslie Nope. I love her attitude. I think she has such a full heart, and everything she does, she puts her full character into it. And she makes mistakes. There's there's no doubting that. You know, she loses her way a couple times. Always. But I think her heart is always at the center of it. I think she's always well-intentioned. She's very humanist, which I very much love about her. I think personally for me, a career isn't worth anything if I'm just doing it for myself. I have to be doing it for other people, for someone else. I have to be You have to have purpose. Yeah. And I love especially the local government level that we've been seeing right now, being able to see the repercussions of your work and being able to see, you know, the impact that you're having on a day-to-day basis. Um I think being able to compare that to maybe her work at the local level has been kind of inspiring to me.

SPEAKER_05 35:41

That was a great answer.

SPEAKER_00 35:42

I haven't watched it. Jen is definitely our Ron Swanson.

SPEAKER_02 35:46

Really?

SPEAKER_00 35:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:48

She's Tom Haverford for me.

SPEAKER_00 35:51

Huh.

SPEAKER_02 35:52

In a great way.

SPEAKER_05 35:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:53

Thomas is Ron Swanson.

SPEAKER_04 35:55

Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 35:57

I'm gonna have to watch this. I still haven't watched it. It's time. Jada.

SPEAKER_01 36:02

So the first person who came to mind was actually a professor from school. Her name is Katherine Brennica. Excuse me. She worked for CNN for 10 years. And I've been so lucky to take multiple classes with her. And she is just the most lighthearted, fun, enthusiastic professor, but she's also very blunt. And uh one of the classes I was lucky enough to take with her, we only had about I want to say like 12 students in the whole class. So when people didn't show up, it was like eight of us. So the it was very discussion-based. And whenever we would go through stories and whatnot, and we were pitching things, she was always extremely inquisitive. And if somebody had a strong opinion or even just a general opinion about anything, she was always asking us why, but she would really pry. Like if you gave her an answer, she's still gonna keep poking you, probably like four more times.

SPEAKER_05 37:06

Especially if she didn't believe you.

SPEAKER_01 37:07

Right. Yeah. And I just really admire the career that she had before she became a professor. And she just has a lot of great memories surrounding that. And I think working in an environment as chaotic and like hustle and bustle as CNN is something that actually interests me a lot. And I also know Greg worked for CNN too. I got to have a career conversation with him last week. And he said that it's been nice coming to Milton because it was like so crazy go, go, go non-stop. And now he's here and he actually feels like he can breathe a little bit. And I feel like at least in my probably, I don't know, I guess within my 20s, I would really like to experience working in a career where it's like very high pace, high energy.

SPEAKER_05 37:59

You also need to go and speak with Oksana.

SPEAKER_01 38:01

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 38:02

Oksana has quite an amazing background and has worked in some unbelievable places. So highly recommend chatting with her because she every time we get into something, she always amazes me and goes, Oh, yeah, when I worked for the consulate, oh, when I was overseas doing this. And she's traveled a ton, she's from another country, she has such a wide perspective. So chat with her. Highly recommend it. All right.

Pet Peeves And Closing Notes

SPEAKER_05 38:34

Last question I'm gonna ask just because I think it's important. What's your biggest peck peeve?

SPEAKER_01 38:42

Slow walkers.

SPEAKER_05 38:44

Ah, you and me too.

SPEAKER_00 38:47

You so just took mine.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

I can't really. Please speed up. Or I'm going to walk in the water.

SPEAKER_05 39:00

Or move over to the right lane.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

True.

SPEAKER_05 39:02

True.

SPEAKER_01 39:03

Or when people don't move. If you're like walking towards someone, I've stopped moving because apparently I don't exist when I walk. So sorry, I was quick with that.

SPEAKER_05 39:14

Nope. I'm I'm all over that one. You gotta come up with something else.

SPEAKER_00 39:18

I I I do have another one. I'm not a peeved person, I promise. I think I'm a very inviting person. You are people who chew loudly. True. I'm pretty sure.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Misophobia or misophobia? I don't know how to say misophonia.

SPEAKER_04 39:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:33

Not that I'm aware of, but it's just like keep keep it in your mouth, keep it away from me. Do not believe like there's a personal space aspect to it. But like one, you should not be chewing if you're really in my personal space bubble.

SPEAKER_05 39:45

Like it's true. You are my spirit animal because as of one thing that sends me outer limits quicker than anything. My youngest son has misophonia so bad that he's had to get up from the dinner table. He cannot deal. I cannot deal with it.

SPEAKER_02 40:02

Noted. So we will always walk quickly and I will eat my lunch at my desk. Noted.

SPEAKER_05 40:09

Pet peeves, hey man, it's a great question. It it reveals a lot about. You gotta know. So, with that, this has been a great conversation. I truly enjoyed chatting with you two. I think you're gonna have a great summer, and I think you're gonna bring a lot to Milton. And I hope I get the opportunity to work with y'all. If you have any questions, graphic, anything like that, you know I'm here. I stay in my corner and try not to pester people. But so grateful for the both of you. Enjoy your time. And thanks for joining us on this episode of Milton and Maine. It's always exciting to meet people at the beginning of their professional journeys. And albeit this may not be where your true profession leads, but it's it's a step in the experience to finding that. And love it that you're members of our own community. So that makes it even more special. So we're grateful to have these two talented interns spending part of their summer with us, learning how local government works and contributing to the work that serves Milton residents every day. We'll be cheering them on as they continue their education, pursue their careers, and write the next chapters of their stories. But here's the thing: they're coming back at the end of their internship to fill in the gaps, to tell us how it went, what they got out of it, and advice for the next group of interns. So, Emily, thanks for joining us. Thanks, Chris. You know I love having you on here.

SPEAKER_02 41:35

Always so fun. See you in the next episode, so hopefully.

SPEAKER_05 41:38

Well, you need to come up with your episode.

SPEAKER_02 41:40

I don't even know what to talk about.

SPEAKER_05 41:41

Oh, you have so many things to talk about. She's so silly. Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and join us next time for another conversation about the people, projects, and stories that help shape the city of Milton. Thanks for listening to Milton in Maine. We hope this episode gave you fresh insights into what makes our city so special. Stay connected and don't miss an episode by subscribing to this podcast on your favorite platform and following us on social media for all updates. And of course, if you want to learn more about the city, visit us online at www.miltonga.gov for resources, news, and upcoming events. Until next time, thanks for being part of the conversation, and we'll see you on the next Milton in Maine.