WEBVTT

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I'm Jeffrey Nguyen, and I'm a
senior at Evergreen High School.

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I came here as a freshman.

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Initially, I was very shy.

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I was just kind of
in my own bubble,

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and then I started opening
up more with people.

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I started to
express myself more,

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and eventually, I got
into student government.

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That was a really amazing
experience for me.

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I learned how to have
a good work ethic, how

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to have a good work
balance, and through being

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in a student government, I was
able to go to Washington, DC.

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The ACLU National
Advocacy Institute

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is a one-week long
summer leadership

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camp in DC, where you have
social, political workshops

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layered toward civil
justice advocacy.

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And I remember stepping off
the plane in DC and being like,

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wow, I'm actually here.

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Me, a kid from White Center
going all the way to DC?

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Like, I just
couldn't believe it.

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Through that trip,
I learned new things

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and understand different
perspectives, as well.

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And it taught me a lot about
how to advocate for yourself

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and your people, as well.

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My experiences in high school
have made a tremendous impact

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on my perspective and
my career trajectory.

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I think having different
perspectives opens up

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your mind to so much more.

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I want to travel the world.

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I want to work around the world.

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I want to network
and meet people

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from different countries
and different cultures.

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I'm the first person in my
family to finish high school,

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so I think that's a very big
accomplishment in itself.

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My family and
fulfilling my potential

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are the two things that
make me wake up every day.

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