Alumna Catherine Shieh advocates for political engagement

Nestled in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Monta Vista High School in Cupertino is notorious for being one of the most academically intense in the state. With Apple’s headquarters just a stone’s throw away and many of the residents employed in the technology industry, Monta Vista has an undeniable emphasis on math and science. Within this high-tech world, USC alumna Catherine Shieh found her true calling: politics.

“I just clearly didn’t fit the math and science mold, and I had other strengths besides every other Monta Vista student,” Shieh said.

Her sister suggested joining Vision New America, a program that focuses on increasing civic engagement among underrepresented youth by placing high school students into state legislative offices. Shieh was placed in the office of then-State Assemblymember Joe Coto (D-District 23).

“I realized that politics isn’t that bad.There are a lot of good people, [for example] staffers and other names that you don’t hear, and these are people who truly do want to figure out what is best for everybody,” Shieh said. “Politics is so tricky because you technically shouldn’t be excluding anybody, and I think that’s so fascinating. To realize that good intentions can go somewhere in politics was inspiring, and I realized this is where I’m meant to be.”

Shieh continued her political involvement at USC. She began as a student worker for the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, which she said “got [her] foot in the door.” In addition to serving as finance director and president of the USC College Democrats, she went on to intern for the campaign finance firm Maravich Associates LLC, as well as a several campaigns — including current Congresswoman Janice Hahn’s congressional campaign, Senator Dianne Feinstein’s re-election campaign and current State Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’ campaign. She also interned for the nonprofit California Forward and for Congressman Mike Honda.

Shieh focused on civil rights and Asian-American issues while working for Honda. She also helped open the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus, which launched in June 2012 and focuses on preventing bullying in educational institutions and other establishments. 

Shieh said the political culture of USC did not concern her as much as political culture in general, especially the lack of engagement among minorities, particularly Asian Americans.

“Asian Americans, at the end of the day, are the least likely to vote, the least likely to get health insurance, the least likely to be civically engaged, the least likely to be anywhere in politics,” Shieh said. “The fact that, among my peers, I will be the only Asian American, let alone the only Asian-American female, they’ll encounter, I knew very early on I was not going to be like everyone else.”

After graduating in December 2013, Shieh moved to Washington D.C. to intern for Congressman Ami Bera of California’s 7th Congressional District. She continued her work on Asian-American issues as well as pharmaceutical drug regulations. Drawing on her experience working for Honda, she was asked to help create the California Public Higher Education Caucus for Bera. Shieh said that following the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the University of California and California State University schools have become more dependent on the federal government for funding. The caucus will advocate for the two state university systems and focus on improving quality, affordability and accessibility of higher education. 

“America depends on California, California needs to advocate for itself,” Shieh said. 

Shieh emphasized the importance of civic engagement and political involvement for students.

“If you don’t vote, don’t complain because that’s no longer your place,” Shieh said. “We forget that people fought and died to make sure that we can vote. Those who identify as undocumented, they would willingly do anything for their voice to be heard and their voice legally cannot be heard. Voting is your first responsibility, and there are 11 million undocumented Americans who don’t have that luxury.”

According to Shieh, the most pernicious force in politics is not bad intentions, but apathy. 

“I don’t think there are a lot of ‘bad people’ who are in politics,” Shieh said. “I think there’s just enough people that are willing to opt out of politics, which means they are OK with what’s happening, and when you have enough people that are OK with the status quo that makes things the way they are, and that make it stay and that makes that power stay and it’s more apathy that will hurt us than people with mal intentions.”

She advised students interested in politics to remember the power of asking for what they want. 

“Always advocate for yourself, and always ask,” Shieh said. “You never know who’s going to be your friend at the end of the day, and especially trying to get people of color to be involved, it’s always on the individual to ask for more resources, always ask for that business card, always ask to meet up a second time, always ask for that email, always ask for an opportunity because all that takes is an ask. I know that I would clearly not be where I am today if I didn’t have a boss who told me, ‘You always have to ask.’”