Exemplification Essay: Pursuing The American Dream

Here lies a mystical truth that I never knew: My dad’s close friend attempted to kill me when I was seven. In the heart of Dubai, Sharjah on March 12th, 2004, I encountered a tragic event, a near death experience. While riding a traditional “Abra” boat, my dad’s friend got into a fierce argument with my dad over his prosperous business and threatened him to leave this country. My dad was in jeopardy as he warned him to dispose of all his property, money, and business in return of my life. With arguments leading to disagreements, my dad’s colleague strived to push me into the water. A while later, I lay near the shore, my mind blank. My dad squeezed my lungs with pressure; I choked and coughed. His teardrops cooled my skin and encouraged me

I danced freely at the thought that I would have our house, our car, and everything at our fingertips. But, I was confronted with the reality that coming to the United States meant living in the “shadows.” Instead, I am hit with the stark reality of life in Queens squalor. I had no idea that I would be forced to live in a single bedroom, share accommodations with another family, witness my intellectual parents struggle for unemployment, deal with bullying, struggle to overcome language barriers at school, and adapt myself into the American Society. As a young and poor immigrant in this country, I was obligated to live in impoverished conditions and battle to fit in socially with my peers at school. At only ten, I was left with the weight of adult responsibilities, washing dishes, cooking food for the entire family, attending school on my own, and navigating the tricky terrains of life. I was baffled by the new educational system. There were times when I cried at the thought of failing. I had the urge to hide my face, to pretend nothing was wrong in front of my parents. I felt lost in all my classes, but as the days passed, my devotion to school grew rapidly. At times, I sought assistance from peers at the library and not only that I began to show some improvement, but I also