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In August of 2014, Shieh ended up securing a job as an Government and Economics teacher in LAUSD and later as an Ethnic studies teacher in the same school district in August of 2016. She notes the ironic nature of “falling into” a career of ethnic studies and the impact it has had on not only her life, but also her students. “I don’t think I had ever told students to become activists — I was just telling them that ‘These are our identities,’’ Shieh said.
individuals], students started to create clubs on their own [around advocacy work]. It was really cool to know that not only did I make an impact, but there were steps being made towards systemic ?+<#@"0<%&<)0#+#+,&2(()A#+0<()&B0<"%)#+%&C"%#"&<%02"%):&"%)&D<"+#2&C<=A#%:&2$0::&#+&<"%& change within the school campuses [I was E(:&?+,%$%:&F+#-#%A&C2"(($&G#:<)#2<&HE?FCGI>&& teaching at].” — it really determines so much of our lives. As a current anti-hate training [So,] it was mind blowing to think like, coordinator for Asian Americans Advancing yourself, weirdly enough — it’s accepting ‘Oh, you meet with constituents, people Justice, Sheih has been doing civic reality and [once you do], then you [have actually get paid to do this [and] it’s a full engagement work involving racial equity the ability to] change it,” Galagali said. time gig.’” in Chicago, Illinois. Shieh encourages In college, Shieh was heavily involved younger students interested in doing the it. Then, the reactions will come in a more with organizations relating to politics, sagely way and you start to realize what including The College Democrats and The “You will be tested and you will be you [truly] need to do [to prevent certain Institute of Politics. While tried,” Shieh said. “If you’re just kind of issues or concerns].” Shieh had a passion going along and moving with the tide, for politics, she was CATHERINE SHIEH to study as a college major, When applying to college during high in tackling public what is driving you to do school, MVHS alumnae Catherine Shieh, policy issues regarding that and what will help you ‘10, says she was plagued with a common education. Shieh keep going when like sh*t dilemma — she had no clue what she ended up following a wanted to study. She then devised a career path with Teach that I have needed to let For America, a nongo of what it means to be selecting the University of Southern a[n] MVHS Asian-American. California (USC) and printing out the list that helps recruit of all majors available at the school, she willing to give up [once you do started going down the list and marked college students for leave MVHS, whether that’d be] income, relationships, home or her. She ultimately applied as a political realm of education to help students living in low-income reputation.” science major and was accepted. neighborhoods. The decision to attend USC helped kickstart Shieh’s career as a member in the California state legislature, an Ethic School District (LAUSD) and an antihate training coordinator. However, her passions for civil engagement and social justice emerged long before college. “When I was working at Vision New America [in high school] , there became this whole idea [of] ‘Oh, people actually about the careers that many of our parents have [in the Bay Area] who may be immigrants, many of us come here with [one set vision of potential careers]
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I FEEL PRIVILEDGED TO KNOW THAT I [HAD] LIV[ED] IN A STATE IN WHICH THERE IS A POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT ALLOWED ME TO HAVE DONE WHAT I DID ... IT WAS THE COOLEST EXPEREINCE [BEING AN ETHNIC STUDIES TEACHER]. !"#$%&!#'()**+,$"!#*+()!#&'+$"'(-&$'&
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