When it comes to putting others before ourselves, sometimes what’s best for us ultimately overpowers our desire to give back. However, this has never been an issue for our next campus celebrity, Marni Jacobson. Not only do her initials, “MJ” parallel the iconic status of those such as Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan (clearly this girl was destined for stardom from the beginning), but her claim to fame is so much more than that. Marni’s celebrity status wasn’t earned through her focus on herself, but rather through her focus on others. As the Family Relations Chair of Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan, Marni has impacted the lives of numerous children and their families who directly benefit from the pediatric rehabilitation therapies DMUM funds. As if this girl doesn’t give back enough, she so graciously agreed to sit down with us to share her experience working with DMUM.
Her Campus: So, the classic first question, how did you initially become involved in Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan?
Marni Jacobson: It started the summer before my senior year of high school. Over the summer, I was volunteering for Beaumont in their outpatient pediatric rehabilitation center in West Bloomfield and I ended up staying on with them during the year. When I was accepted to Michigan one of the social workers, Therese, sat down with me and was like, “You’ve gotta get involved in Dance Marathon when you go to the University! Like it’s the greatest thing.” So, she told me all about it, and I was like, “Totally!” It was so up my alley. I couldn’t wait to join when I got to school. When I got to campus in the fall, someone handed me a flyer that said ‘Dance Marathon’ and I was like oh yeah this is the thing-the thing I’m supposed to get involved in. So, I went on the website and read anything and everything about the organization, and then I applied.
HC: Okay, woah. First of all, talk about dedication. Not many can say they’re so passionately involved in something at college that started even before their last year of high school. You said you applied? Can’t anyone be a dancer for DMUM?
MJ: Yeah, so, fun fact: I’ve actually never been a dancer. My freshman year I was a Dancer Fundraising Coordinator (that was what I applied for when I first got the flyer), and then my sophomore year I was a Family Relations Coordinator, and now, this year, I’m the Family Relations Chair.
HC: Look at you-moving your way up through the rankings. So, I’m assuming the Family Relations Chair is in charge of all things Family Relations?
MJ: Yeah, exactly.
HC: Okay, so clearly you’re a big deal. But, I know you’re not really doing any of this for you- it’s all for the kids. Are there any moments that stick out to you in particular that made you go, “Wow, yes. This is why all of my time and dedication is worth it.” Is there anything that really affected you?
MJ: Omg I have a million stories- like I could actually go on forever, but I’ll tell you one moment in particular that really sticks out to me. This year at pumpkin carving, which is an event we put on so the teams can bond with their families, a mom of one of the children approached me. This family has been involved with Dance Marathon for a long time, so I’ve kind of gotten to see the child, Emily, grow and get older. Emily has no cognitive disabilities, but her physical disability has left her in a wheelchair. So, Emily’s mom approached me and was like, “You know, I just want you to know, Emily’s had a really tough time the past few years. She’s almost twelve, and she isn’t so comfortable with herself. She feels pretty self-conscious at school and around her peers, but the one place that she feels like she can totally be herself is when she’s around her Dance Marathon friends.” And you can totally see it! I have this video of her at pumpkin carving rolling around in her wheel chair, laughing and just saying the silliest things- you can really see how at ease she is. The fact that Dance Marathon can do that for her, the fact that we can make her feel like her true self when she isn’t always comfortable in her own skin, is what reinforces how special this organization is.
HC: Literally tearing up a little. You’re obviously passionate and really care about helping others- but what exactly is it about Dance Marathon that you think is so special?
MJ: I think the best thing about our organization is that you get to see exactly where your money goes. You get to see the families you’re benefitting, you get to see the kids whose lives you’re making a difference in and you get to see exactly why it’s all worth it. Being the family relations chair, I’m in charge of what I personally think is the best part of Dance Marathon: working with the families and fostering such a special relationship between the teams and the kids they’re assigned to. I’ve seen some of these children grow, I’ve seen kids like Emily who are directly benefitting from their involvement in Dance Marathon- and that’s something that not every volunteer organization can do. Sometimes you don’t get to see the difference you’re making, but with Dance Marathon you can see every impact you’re leaving.
HC: Talk about leaving an impact- I feel empowered to be a better person after just talking to you. (Seriously- you’re making the rest of us mere mortals look pretty bad.) But inadequacy aside, when’s the marathon this year and is there anything different compared to the marathons in the past?
MJ: Well first of all, no one should be feeling inadequate because anyone can sign up to be a dancer, so anyone and everyone should join! The marathon is in March. As far as differences go, we’re standing at the marathon for 24 hours this year instead of 30.
HC: Why the switch from 30 hours to 24 hours?
MJ: Well, we didn’t really have a meaning behind the 30 hours. People would ask us all the time, “Why 30 hours?” And no one was exactly sure why 30 hours, it had just always been like that. But, making the switch to 24 hours this year gives the amount of time spent standing so much more meaning. It’s 24 hours, which is one day. One day standing in a kid’s shoes who deals with these physical disabilities on a daily basis. So, that’s the reason behind the change- just to give it more meaning instead of an arbitrary number.
HC: After talking to you, I’m definitely feeling affected. I have no doubt others will be touched in the same way. If it’s not too late- where can we sign up to join a pod and become a dancer?
MJ: It’s not too late! You can still join a pod, be a dancer and participate. You can register at dmum.org and if you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.
HC: Thanks for talking to us!
MJ: Anytime, but it’s not really for you guys- it’s always for the kids.