the american dream

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

this publication is a place for me to reflect on productivity, health and tech, and drop unique opportunities in the space right to your inbox daily. if you’re new here, sign up to tune in! 💌 

btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.

onto today’s topic: the american dream 🇺🇸 

i knew immigrating to canada from punjab was a popular topic, but i didn’t think it was to the extent that i witnessed while visiting my parents’ hometowns.

every street is littered with posters and ads promoting student visas and passing ielts tests in order to immigrate to canada. the same way people advertise sat tutors and college counsellors for ivy league admissions, there are workshops on canadian universities and tutors for english proficiency exams at each corner, except it’s 10x more amplified than what you’re probably imagining. at a café i went to, there were a few people huddled around a canada-themed cake to celebrate a guy’s student visa approval, and that wasn’t even the first time i saw that happen. random cars and trucks on the street have the canadian and american flags on them as well for no reason at all. 😭

part of the problem is how glorified the american dream has become. breaking news, opportunities don’t fall out of the sky despite canada being “the land of opportunity.” the reality is a tiring struggle plagued with isolation, financial hardship and a lot of hard work. maybe even a sprinkle of luck. 🍀 a trend i’m witnessing firsthand is that a lot of the students haphazardly applying for student visas are doing so without a more long-term plan — there’s a difference between students immigrating to seriously pursue an education and immigrating just for the sake of doing it. the order of events for the latter is: get a student visa, immigrate to canada, and somehow figure it out.

it’s because the american dream’s glorification has led so many people to believe that this is feasible and is a sure-fire method to success. the reality is a lot more daunting.

what i call the feedback loop of falsehood is a key catalyst to the american dream’s glorification. relatives that have already immigrated and settled elsewhere don’t want to share the struggle and hardships they went through for the sake of their pride. people always flaunt their success so of course those on the other end would be compelled to follow. those struggles are shadowed and only let loose on unsuspecting immigrants when they set foot in a new country. 🪜

but, how could warnings of hardship possibly stop starry eyes and determination for a better life?

part of why india isn’t developing as rapidly as other countries despite arguably having the largest pool of tech talent is because the talent is leaving. the country’s working and/or living conditions alongside politics and general infrastructure isn’t on par or improving significantly compared to other countries. the smart people are leaving and helping other countries prosper.

people often complain about immigration and international students stealing jobs. 💼 instead of pointing fingers at people doing what is natural, striving for their best, we should blame governments that prioritize personal gain and corruption over the over well-being and advancement of their countries.

the american dream isn’t dead.

but i do certainly believe it has been grossly glamorized.

daily opportunity + resource drops 🔍️