Living the American Dream | Pooja Mahajan | TEDxGreenville

Does the American Dream still exist? In this talk, Pooja inspires the listeners to reevaluate the meaning of the American Dream by sharing her personal story of moving to the United States for pursuing the American Dream and failing to achieve it, or not.

[mosa._.fantasy]

POV: your teacher gave you this to watch so you can write about it later

[pshakouri]

My brother and I came to America from Iran in 2003, I had $700 something dollar in cash. worked our asses off, studied ridiculously hard, no weekends or holidays, worked like a MF. I became a kidney doctor & he a plastic surgeon. No country like it especially the country we were born in. I love this country so much. Please keep it this way

[nelestratenschulte]

I really like her view of the American Dream, she is like saying „Your Dream is the American Dream“

[nelestratenschulte]

Well said😊 The American dream is a difficult topic, but I think that it is good to have a dream and to believe in it. Everybody has their own American dream 💫

[ArtistCH]

George Carlin said it better.
“That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

[claudbugheni]

This is wonderful and I can completely relate. The American dream is not about the big cars and houses but rather what each person hopes to achieve using the opportunity awarded to them by this prosperous country. Thank you for sharing Pooja.

[luis]

That is a normal situation for an average immigrant, you have to deal with those situations, the only fact of not being born in the US puts you in second place of the list, but it’s understandable for Americans to believe that, at the end of the day, they founded this country for them. People from abroad have to contribute to the country before asking for respect. It is what it is😕😬

[SushrutKanetkar]

This is very true. I had same experience. I was denied jobs and visa sponsorships as i was on a student visa. Now i am back in india and leading projects here and doing well. I am a software engineer. I no longer care about the American dream.

[FormerNewAger-sbue]

My American dream is made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who blessed this country.

[anilsah]

These are the times of crisis every other country is struggling to pull back their economy....US is always partial for their of indians are thrown out from jobs in this time of crisi...thankfully in Indian set up there are companies and organisations that are paying for work from home ...pooja that was an eye opener for me thank u....I would do away with this American dream NW👍

[everythingafterwithmeera]

Ohh., speechless!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Proud of you!!!!🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[BuserODL]

The American dream is unique to each person. It's not some cookie cutter thing. It's shaped and molded by your will and desires and your work ethic. Your willingness to give for something more than yourself and material desires.

[c.h.o.r.i]

I’m watching this because of my teacher

[ginaherring]

What an amazing lady. Well said Poojah!

[thepoptingz]

I could get the opportunity to move to the USA in 3 days. I don't know how things will work out, but I have an idea of the American dream. I turned 24, just 2 days ago...

[SasquatchWithStyle]

The American Dream is whatever you want it to be. Some people are just way too lazy to chase their American Dream. My American Dream was to have my own handyman service. I'm living my American Dream because I relentlessly chased after it.

[jaclynellerie]

Pooja and I were in the same research group in the environmental engineering department at Clemson from 2010 to 2012, with the same thesis advisor, so I knew her fairly well. I am unsettled by her statement, "I even worked for free when my advisor did not have the funds to pay me." While I do not doubt the truth of her statement, I find it hard to believe her pay was simply cut off instantaneously without any other options presented. Her statement reflects poorly on Clemson, the environmental engineering department, and, worst of all, our advisor, who was one of the most considerate and accommodating people I have ever met. He worked hard to find opportunities for us, arranging trips to conferences and coordinating events that put us in contact with potential employers. He even drove us across the state for a field trip to a desalination plant.

I did not have a research assistantship at Clemson and was instead a teaching assistant. The pay was approximately equivalent to a research assistantship and was supplemented with a tuition waiver, but of course more work was required, as a TA is expected to balance a research project and TA responsibilities. So the question is, could she not have taken on a teaching assistantship to replace her RA funding? It is so long ago that it is impossible to know for sure, but I do recall that some of the TA's in our department were international students.

No one can dispute that international students have more challenges, but painting your alma mater in a bad light without providing proper context is in poor taste. Two sides to every story.

[Draakie]

Everybody has the same "dream", it's being happy in life (jmho). Peace 😊

[JoeMammau]

POV: youre in mrs. Seikkula's class and youre watching this

[XYZ-unct]

I would rather live in India like a first class citizen . Enjoy all festivals and the joyful atmosphere . No India has changed alot, it is comfortable life here too.