The American dream has been woven into countless narratives throughout my life, shaped by the inspiring stories shared by my family members and friends who came to the United States in search of a better life. This Independence Day, it might be tempting to think this dream is now elusive as division and discouragement spread across our country.
But my life proves it can still be a reality — if we strive to make it one.
Those of us from immigrant communities are familiar with the promise of opportunity, enshrined by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and encapsulated in the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Families like mine have worked urgently to realize this promise.
Growing up, my family of 12 children born to immigrant parents faced many obstacles. We could have taken the wrong path, but we were fortunate to live in a state that gave us access to a top-tier education at Catholic private schools, magnet schools, and traditional public schools, in which each of us found what we needed to chase our dreams.
As a young girl, I didn’t believe I was intelligent or that I could excel in school. Even though my parents had faith in me, I was convinced I would fail. I focused on sports, thinking it was the only area in which I could succeed. I thought my siblings would go on to be successful while I remained stuck in poverty.
But thanks to scholarship opportunities in my state, I met teachers who saw my potential and supported me, helping me gain confidence. And I was able to build friendships with others from different backgrounds and belief systems.
Today, I am a college graduate working at a national policy organization, fighting for children like me. I went from feeling inadequate as a young girl to testifying before Congress at age 24.
My siblings and I are a fulfillment of my grandparents’ dreams. We all have different opinions, careers, hopes, and dreams, but we are all achieving our goals. Four of us are college graduates, two are engineers, one is in medical school, six are university students, and two are high school students.
This Independence Day, I want my family’s story to be the norm, not an exception.
I want my generation to reignite the spirit of striving for greatness in their careers, nurturing their families, or pursuing whatever version of the American dream they might hold. Negativity and doom may drive news cycles, but success stories abound when children are given opportunity. We must share these stories — and make them possible.
Consider my friend and colleague Gissell, a first-generation American born in Delaware but raised in Mexico in the early 2000s. At 14 years old, she returned without her parents to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to pursue her education. Thanks to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, which she was able to attend because of Wisconsin’s school choice program, Gissell overcame numerous obstacles, including the difficult decision to forgo a full scholarship to Georgetown University to bring her two teenage sisters from Mexico instead and care for them.
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She went on to earn a double full scholarship to Marquette University and became the first college graduate in her family this May. She is still building her American dream as she pursues a career in policy.
Our stories prove the American dream is alive and well if only we give children the chance to chase it. This means granting them access to quality education and opportunities regardless of their background or ZIP code. This Independence Day, let’s rededicate ourselves to that goal.
Hera Varmah is a graduate of Florida’s tax credit scholarship programs and an external relations associate at the American Federation for Children.