Hello everyone! My name is Haben. I was born in a small rural town in Ethiopia called Debrebrehan and immigrated to the United States when I was seven years old. The media played a big role in my immigration story because of how America was depicted as a land of opportunity and social mobility. Whether it was the news or just a family conversation over coffee, everyone was always infatuated with the American dream. My parents were always ambitious and educated. While the political, social, and economic climate of Ethiopia was rather unstable, my parents decided that moving across the world would provide us an opportunity to have a higher quality of education, create more success, and dream bigger. As my parents juggled several jobs and managed to navigate their careers, I saw the American dream unfold before my eyes. Although I now understand that the concept is a facade, my parents have found a way to visualize, manifest, and actualize their dreams. They made it possible for me and my siblings to continue a legacy. One where we circumvent a life of generational poverty.