DETROIT, MI --

The Detroit girl who made national news in 2008 for schooling a City Council member on being an adult is heading to Michigan State University with her sights set on a political career.

The Detroit City Council honored Keira Bell on Tuesday for serving as the council's intern.

Bell first came to the council's attention five years ago when, as an eighth-grader, she publicly questioned then-Councilwoman Monica Conyers decision to call Council Member Kenneth Cockrel Jr. "Shrek" during a city meeting.

Bell told Conyers during a meeting organized by the Detroit News that, as an adult, she had a choice to make her comments.

"Sometimes you have to think before you act," Bell said.

and the Detroit middle-schooler became a voice for polite debate.

Councilman Kwame Kenyatta presented Bell, a recent graduate of Cass Technical College, with a plaque on Tuesday and told the council she plans to study politics and law at Michigan State with her eyes set on being mayor of Detroit one day.

Bell briefly addressed the council, noting her return completed a circle, of sorts, to her comments five years earlier.

"I thank all of you for being behind me," she told the council.