McClellan Elementary paraprofessional becomes U.S. Citizen

Shevan Abdulla sits on the floor inside a first-grade classroom at McClellan Elementary School constructing a colorful tower alongside student Santino Civitello.

“Higher,” Santino states, as Abdulla, a paraprofessional at the school, adds more blocks to the structure and begins quizzing the young boy on his spelling words.

It’s business as usual inside the classroom, except for the youngsters running around in red, white and blue and the cake awaiting Abdulla in the teacher’s lounge.

Today, he’s an American citizen.

He’s spent the last five years working for this day and his colleagues and students at the school are ready to celebrate. Just the day before, on Jan. 22, he took the oath of allegiance and now is a full-fledged American.

“Just coming here and seeing my colleagues congratulating me and celebrating me, that is amazing,” said Abdulla, 29, of Clairton, who came to the United States from Iraq in 2014.

The journey getting here wasn’t easy.

Seven years before Abdulla came to the United States, his dad was forced to leave Iraq, Abdulla said.

“We are Kurds, so we are a minority,” he said. “Because of his ethnicity and his political beliefs, he was threatened by terrorists, and because of that he had to leave the country.”

Abdulla, his mom and two younger brothers were left behind in Iraq, while his dad sought refuge in Turkey for two years, before making his way to the United States.

Abdulla was in his last year of high school at the time.

“Financially, it was tough. Emotionally, it was tough. But it was worth it, as long as he was safe,” he said.

Abdulla learned English by watching American movies — mostly ones starring Sylvester Stallone, although he admits his movie taste has changed over the years.

He attended an American university in Iraq for three years, where he majored in mechanical engineering.

It was just before his final year of college that his family received approval from the immigration office to come to the United States.

Fortunately for Abdulla, the University of Pittsburgh accepted a majority of his credits and within one year he graduated with a degree in political science.

“I just love politics,” he said.

Coming to the U.S. was a “huge culture shock” for Abdulla.

“The U.S. that you see from movies is totally different from the U.S. that you experience,” he said.

He learned that the English he knew was closer to British English than what Americans speak.

Coming to the Steel City, he tried to fake a Pittsburgh accent, using words like yinz in everyday speech.

“That was super awkward and uncomfortable for everybody,” he said. “So, I just stopped trying and gave up on that.”

The culture also was a big shock.

“You’re moving from a failed state to a prosperous and the best country in the world, the most powerful country in the world,” he said.

That was a shift.

“I love being here,” he Abdulla said.

His favorite part of the U.S.? Cheeseburgers, of course.

“And obviously being able to express your opinion, practicing your faith,” he said. “I’m a Muslim. Everybody here respects that, especially the people that I work with.”

Abdulla has worked numerous jobs since graduating from college, including as a research analyst and sales consultant. He currently also holds a job as a translator.

In Iraq, he learned to be patient, he said. Through his religion, he learned how to work with and understand kids. Both have helped him in his roles as a paraprofessional in the West Jefferson Hills School District, where he started a few months ago.

Michele Rash, secretary to the principal at McClellan, learned about Abdulla’s citizenship when he put in a request for personal day to be sworn in.

“I said, ‘We have to do something. This is huge,’” she said.

Rash contacted U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s office and had a flag flown over the capital for Abdulla on the day of his citizenship ceremony.

Students were asked to wear red, white and blue on Jan. 23 and teachers explained to them the importance of the day.

Rash said that Abdulla is always professional at the school and makes sure to follow the rules.

For him, the celebration made the day that much better.

But the best part? He now gets to vote. As a political science major, that’s a big deal.

“It was amazing. It’s hard to describe,” Abdulla said of the feeling he had become an American citizen.