26 years ago. 9 thousand, 4 hundred, and 90 days have passed since I’ve been living this American dream. 26 years ago, I boarded a flight that changed my life forever. A flight that took me from a small town in Cape Verde to the land of the free, America, was the easiest decision I’ve ever made. Yes, I had to leave my family, the only thing I've ever known, but it was the right thing to do. When my sister left Cabo Verde for Boston, it was the best decision she ever made. For herself and us. I knew I could do the same. I wanted to provide for my family and give them a life they could only dream of. Living in Cabo Verde was hard. My parents worked tirelessly to put food on the table and provide us with the bare necessities like fresh water and a roof over our heads. But it was never enough. Money was scarce, and opportunities were limited. When I was 15, my older sister moved to America, and that changed everything. She was sending $200 a month. It made a significant difference in our lives. We were able to afford things that were previously out of our reach, and it gave us hope. …show more content…
I put a lot of effort into getting my own barbershop, which I slowly renovated to make something I was proud of. We bought homes and made investments in our future after I met my wife and had three kids. As I reflected on my journey, I saw that taking chances and working hard had been worthwhile. I was appreciative of the chances I was given and the people who helped me along the way. Although life wasn't always simple, it was worthwhile. Now being here 26 years later I finally grasped the American Dream. I have my own house with my own family, my own money, and my own freedom. I don't worry much about where I came from. I tried so hard to leave that life behind that I now consider myself more American than African. After everything I have been through I feel like I deserve to be American I feel like I'm the definition of