The American Dream

The American Dream is a critical thread in this country's tapestry, woven together by political beliefs, music and culture.

Although the specific phrase means different things to different people, it has an underlying belief that hard work will pay off and that the next generation will have a better life than the previous generation.

I am a first generation American citizen in my immediate family. My parents came to this country before they got married hoping to gain a better life for themselves. Most kids whose parents have migrated from their home country have probably heard it all before, parents saying how they came "with only dollars in their pockets and the clothes on their back. Kids here in America have it so much better. We grew up living day by day." A little exaggeration was present, but it was to get their point across.

The American work culture allows people to start from the bottom and construct their way up to the top. The story of Tim Harris, a man born with Down Syndrome, is a prime example. "He shows daily how even children born with an extra chromosome can lead normal, productive lives, advancing in their communities" (Lu, Angela). At times there may be instances where people are unable to build up, but most of the time it is the laziness to get up and not do something about it.

Opportunities to succeed are present in almost all areas of work and people just have to find them, take for example the popular video site, YouTube. People get paid millions just for putting out two minute videos! We have it too good here in America. People can find almost any job they want if they go and look.

What do you think about the American dream? 

The Struggle of Language

Speaking two languages is like any other skill. To do it well, people need lots of practice. Along with this practice comes a struggle. The struggle between the language of school and the language of home.

Growing up, the language of home was Malayalam. Before I began school, I exclusively spoke in Malayalam, our native Indian language. I could sings songs, write the alphabet, and read small words. But as I started school, I realized that Malayalam wasn’t the only language in the world.

I faintly remember my early years in elementary school, and I remember I wasn’t a very big talker. In part, the reason I didn’t open my mouth very often was because I didn’t know what to articulate. Words would form in my head but what do I say? I had learned English from my teachers, but my parents were speaking to me in a totally different language at home. I remember thinking to myself, which one do I use? I didn’t know whether my lips should form the consonants of English or the slurs of Malayalam.

I don’t know why it was hard for me to differentiate between the two. Everyone at school was speaking in English, so why shouldn’t I? But then, why were we speaking something completely different at home?

Looking back at it now, I find it funny that I had this kind of mindset. One language for the whole world? How would that even be possible? As years went by, I resolved my questions and opened my eyes to various languages of the world. I’ve learned more than just English and Malayalam, and have opened my vocabulary to the languages of Spanish and Hindi.

There are assortments of languages across various cultures, but they all come together when it comes to the fact that they are used to express desired messages.

Have you ever faced a struggle between various languages?

Dance Dance Revolution

From Broadway to hip-hop to ballet, dance, in its many forms has become a major part of society in the world today. It has origins in every culture and historical period through the ages. And as time continues to fly by, dance has continued to ‘evolve’.

Most cultures and regions of the world have a particular style of dance associated with them. Coming from an Indian background, I have seen styles of dance that vary a lot from the dances here in America. But then again, I have been to various programs and seen Indian-styled dances that have incorporated Americanized movements and music into performances.

Here at A&M, I am a part of a collegiate raas-garba team. (Raas and garba are styles of dance that have origins in Gujarat, India.) We get dressed in traditional costumes and perform nationally on a collegiate level. Over the past years of competing, I have come to notice that the tracks used for performances have gotten major upgrades. The music contains big bass drops and is sometimes overlaid with hip-hop songs. Traditional music has become less common. Even the style of how different moves are performed has been transformed.

There are numerous of amounts of traditional types of dance, but as years go by, similar to clothes, and technology, dancers want the new and throw out the old. I am not saying this is a bad thing, but I enjoy seeing things of the past.

What are your opinions on dance? Do you see dance as a part of culture?