The American dream is a notion that lures many into the United States. It is a romanticized concept that many immigrants, like my father, hung on to in hopes of gaining a better life. Creating a life here from scratch is harder than most think.
My parents picked up their entire life and moved away from the comfort of India to a small apartment in Rogers Park, Chicago. They arrived at the crime-ridden neighborhood with nothing but 500 dollars and a suitcase packed with things that reminded them of home.
When my parents came to this country, they believed the United States would accommodate them. However, they had to accommodate the United States in little ways, like changing their accent so that they would be understood better.
My father had an IT job which helped him save up to move to a better apartment while my mother stayed home. Working in the USA was completely different from working in India, as my father soon realized. He encountered many prejudices from his co-workers since his degree wasn’t from an American Institution. However, the hardships he faced only made him work harder.
Growing up, I would always hear my parents say “take a look around you and see what type of opportunities that you have that we didn’t” during a lecture. My father would rant about how he couldn’t play soccer for his college team because he couldn’t afford cleats. My mother would talk about how she couldn’t afford law school. I’d roll my eyes, shrug them off, and proceed to play video games on the console they had bought me. Looking back now, I realize how much they had to sacrifice to give me what I have now.
I used to listen to my mother talk about how much she missed her parents and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt because after all, they only came here for me. They left their friends, family, and the comfort of India for my brother and I. Their sacrifice and tenacity through hardship make me proud to call them my parents. As of now, I hope my hard work will pay off and make them proud as well.
