The Greatest Accomplishment Of My American Dream

Walking into my kindergarten class, I had no idea that it would be the last time I shared a classroom with people with similar beliefs and backgrounds as me. I had no idea that my intelligence would separate me from my friends and from my culture. In fifth grade, I was one out of four Hispanic children in my class. By then, I got used to people asking me if I’d say something in Spanish for them, acting as if I was an alien from outer space. I remember always declining their requests due to my embarrassment because by this time, most of my friends were white and I felt the need to fit in.

The American Dream was what immigrants thought that America was all about by either hearing stories or just heard about it. Sadly, for them the American Dream was just a dream, The pavement was not paved in gold, and they thought everyone was a nice. More importantly they thought it meant that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success through

The majority of people put their lives on the line to achieve the American Dream. As if without having to have the American Dream come true, their life would seem meaningless. However, little do they know the sacrifices they would face in their pursuit of this idolized lifestyle.

Many have heard of the American Dream. It is the idea by which freedom means that one is afforded the opportunity for prosperity and success reached by hard work in a culture with few barriers. People from all over the world aspire to come to America and live this dream, the American Dream. Millions of immigrants legally enter this county in pursuit of the aforementioned dream; however, each year half a million immigrants enter this country unlawfully (Immigration Reform. 2006. P5).

As a child I would always see my parents work hard for every dollar they made. When I reached my teenage years I realized that it was because they were immigrants to this country and took whatever job opportunity they could find. I also came to realize that I was an immigrant, and that life was tougher for not having the proper documentation. This year I fell into the biggest hole of my life. I learned that I was not going to get financial aid because of my legal status and my mother was also diagnosed with a tumer last month.

I was clearly different because my parents were immigrants from a Caribbean island just trying to live the American dream and provide for their kids in a way they couldn’t if they stayed in their home country.

Coming from a low income family, living in a small town in India, I learned early on about struggling and surviving those struggles. I watched my parents working day and night to provide for electricity, pay for our monthly school fees so my sister and I can have a better education, and for the future they wished upon for their children. To further enhance this vision, my father decided for the family and I to immigrate to the US. Everything was different in the sense that I changed schools, learned a new language, had to make new friends, and learned the different culture. I had to adapt to a whole new world, which was a little difficult at 6 years old

Being a child of immigrant parents has taught me so much. For example, being able to work hard for what you want. At school, I always strive to get A’s. My parent’s have taught me to never settle for anything less than a B. They know that in order for me to go to college and be successful, I not only have to get good grades but work hard to get there.

It took me so long to try and find where I fit and belong. I now know that my identity is something unique and individual and any person growing up, with or without immigrant parents, struggle to find

My parents moved from Colombia to the United States before I was born. I am apart of the first generation in my family that was born here. My parents moved with the single hope of giving me a better life with more opportunities. Having this background has definitely impacted my life in both trivial and meaningful ways. For instance, my father not being able to break through the language barrier has been an integral part of my lifestyle.

Similar to other immigrants my family history is somewhat compelling. Starting with my grandfather who was exiled out of Egypt in 1959 primarily as a result of the "decolonization process and the rise of Egyptian nationalism”, my immediate family and I also left France in 2004 as a result of rising tension against Jews. The migration of my grandparents and parents, from a young age, cultivated a sense of determination in me to overcome obstacles. Arriving in Miami at age 5, I had to learned my third language, English, in order to attend school. I was determined to and successfully lost my accent and got tested into the gifted program after a year of school.

I have lived in two different worlds. The duality of the immigrant experience is a battle that every first-generation child has to wage. As I conquered my language barrier, a whole new world full of traditions and customs opened up. Seeking acceptance from my peers, it was hard not to adopt their culture and ignore my own in the process. However, abandonment was not an option in a family with a strong cultural identity.

The American Dream is an opportunity in which a determined person can have exceptional success through dedication and hard work, achieving equality, freedom, and personal goals. As immigrants, my grandparents followed this beacon of hope, and had this one thing in mind: a better life. Coming from

No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important

Now that I reflect on it, coming to America (U.S.) as an infant has allowed me to take advantage of opportunities such as accessing a higher education that otherwise would’ve been impossible if I had stayed in Mexico, even if it did come with struggles financially and socially. From ages 1-3, I grew up in my grandparents’ house, where we lived a cramped lifestyle due to two other uncles and aunts living there as well. It was quite a tight fit because we all had to live in a one-floor house with only two bedrooms, but we were very family-oriented, so we didn’t mind. At the age of four, I moved to Hoffman Estates without my extended family which resulted in me feeling ostracized by my peers and had difficulty making friends.