Auriann Sehi

Sehi takes action by getting involved in her community

“Sure he’s a businessman, but I don’t think he really knows what he’s doing,” Sehi said.
CHS senior Auriann Sehi has been an active participant of the rapidly growing ‘resistance’ movement – a sentiment sparked by the recent election of Donald Trump.
“My current concerns about the government are that certain interests of certain groups within the United States are being represented [more] than others. Just because there are certain class interests, certain parties and other organizations that have a larger influence over our government, they’re able to manipulate the election and are able to support certain candidates for their cause.”
Sehi has been doing whatever she can to make sure her voice is being heard.
“I’ve been attending a lot of democratic societies where we’re talking about what we can do together in order to combat these issues [such as] doing campaign calls or rallies. There’s not that much I can do as a 17-year-old girl living in the United States. But calling senators and letting them know that I’m concerned about these issues shows that these issues aren’t just something the adults have to care about,” Sehi said.
As a result, Sehi has become very involved within her community. By joining CAIR-MO, Citizens for a Democratic Society and a local Iranian group in St. Louis, Sehi has been able to make sure that her voice is being heard.
Furthermore, Sehi has recommendations for ways that other students and community members can get involved.
“To get your voices heard, first, I would talk about it with your friends. But also, don’t be afraid to talk about with your teachers and administrators,” Sehi said. “That’s kind of how I’ve been trying to get the administration to talk about these things. Like in Principal’s Advisory council, I’m telling Dr. Gutchewsky that these certain things need to be talked about.”
Also, considering the media-driven society that has been growing, Sehi recommends using social media as an outlet for change. And finally, she contends that one does not have to be politically active.
“Do direct actions, go to food banks if you feel like people shouldn’t be hungry, help out at homeless shelters. There are ways where you don’t have to just sit aside and let everything happen. You don’t just have to say that ‘I can’t do anything’. Because if everyone says this, nothing is going to happen. We’re never going to get any progress. So, it takes that one person, and then it’ll multiply for change to actually occur,” Sehi said.
Considering these actions, Sehi has a few goals. “Short term, [I want to make] sure that the grievances that people have are being said so that everything is pretty much out in the open and that we’re being completely honest with each other — from both sides. Long term, [I hope] there will be certain actions taking place to combat those sort of issues and to address those issues,” Sehi said.
Sehi alongside many within her movement have sought to make their grievances with the president known. Despite her beliefs regarding the President she feels that the issues that face the country “should be solved in a way that takes into account both parties and the interests of everyone. It’s not ‘Auriann’s country’, it’s the United States of America.”
When it comes to what it would take for her to consider Trump her President she states, “I think he should be more open to doing the things I want to happen before I call him President.”
Sehi asserts, “Technically, [Trump] is my President. [But], he is not my President because he does not represent me … But, at the same time, can I put a fist in my mouth and say that Donald Trump is my President? Sure, I’m not that stubborn. But, he doesn’t represent me. His campaign was run on something that was completely against me, my religion, and my sex. And for those reasons, I cannot support someone like him.”