The poem describes the journey of someone who was torn from their homeland and lost their identity and freedom. They dispersed like dust in the wind and were accepted in new lands but only for a fee, having their pride and dignity taken. Their name means "free" but that is all they longed to be.
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
UW LaCrosse Leading from the Margins
1. My name means "free" I was born in the wilderness Nurtured by the breeze. My only mother was Savagery. Though temperate and kind, Neighbors neglected me. My innocence was robbed and challenged by greed. Torn from my homelands, I was left to flee. Like dust in the wind, I dispersed silently. New lands accepted me, but for a fee. They swallowed my pride and dignity. They only served me pain and misery. Now little is left of what was me. I am one no more, as you can see. My name means "free" And that was all I longed to be. Shanyia Vang Hmong Poet Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
2. Stepping Up and Stepping Out: Leading from the Margins with Confidence and Authenticity UW LaCrosse Student Workshop Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Seattle Girls’ School Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
3. About Seattle Girls’ School Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
4. Tale of the Good Korean Girl Gone Bad, Gone Good, Gone Super Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
5. My Story: Korea Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
6. My Story: Early Confusion Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
7. My Story: Full Assimilation Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
8. My Story: The Angry Phase Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
9. My Story: A New Path Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
10. What is YOUR path? What is YOUR story? Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
11. Cycle of Systematic Oppression Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
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13. Living in Two Worlds Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
14. Orientations Toward Ethnic Identity Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
15. Effect of Varying Identifications Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
16. What Do You Value? Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
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19. So What? Now What? Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
20. Your Charge as Change Agents Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
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22. Question Everything! Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
23. Question the Media Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
24. Learn Real History Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
26. Every Issue Counts Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
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28. Leadership Lessons From the Dancing Guy: Bring your authentic self to the table Keep on dancing… Someone will join you… And soon, everyone will… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://sites.google.com/site/sgsprofessionaloutreach/)
Policy - When schools don’t have an explicit policy, teachers have no legs to stand on in dealing with these matters. Kids know it’s happening, teachers know it’s happening, but there is no real response when parents or students say “it’s just what happens at this age,” or “what’s the big deal?” Programming - As Gary Howard always said, “You can’t teach what you don’t know.” Give teachers support in learning about alternative aggression, how to recognize it, and what to do about it. Teachers and staff also need to stop repeating the cycle of gender bias unwittingly and punishing girls more harshly for acts of aggression or acting out in general. Students need support, too. If girls don’t know how to deal with conflict, they will resort to what they know and what is safer. Practice - Adults jump on kids “don’t say” “don’t do” but don’t always follow through with meaningful follow-up. These same things then get driven underground to be used when adults aren’t around. They become the very weapons of bullying, which occurs in spaces where there is less adult supervision. Swift and clear consequences must follow acts of alternative aggression, and further explanation and training must reinforce the policy and programming. Adults also need to commit to being more visible in unsupervised spaces like bathrooms, hallways, lunch rooms, etc. to increase safety for all kids from all forms of bullying.