Hanoi, Vietnam – For years, Nguyen Pham worked tirelessly to achieve the American dream. He scrimped and saved every penny he had, even selling his home in Vietnam to fund his journey to the “Land of the Free”. After many months of hard work and perseverance, he landed on American soil, eagerly anticipating a life filled with success, prosperity, and boundless opportunity.
An Unsustainable Life
Unfortunately for Nguyen, the reality of living in America was nothing like he had imagined. From the exorbitant cost of rent to the lack of affordable public transportation, lack of affordable rent, lack of affordable food, and lack of affordable healthcare, his dreams of a better life were quickly shattered. Life in America was not what he expected, and he soon realized that the American dream was a lie. Running a business in America had untold expenses from every level of government, compared to Vietnam when he started out of his house without issues.
To make matters worse, Nguyen discovered that sending his children to school in America came with its own set of problems. Instead of learning valuable knowledge and skills, they were exposed to active shooter drills, dumb Americans, and the constant threat of gun violence.
Don’t Move To America
“Why did I even bother chasing this so-called American dream?” Nguyen lamented. “My kids would have been better off studying in schools in Vietnam, where they would have never been subjected to the fear of being shot.” Nguyen also failed to research all of the economic data that shows which nations are in decline and which have a growing economic future.
Nguyen’s story serves as a cautionary tale for those who have been sold the false promise of the American dream. While the lure of opportunity and success may be enticing, the reality is far more sobering. Family is more important than money.
On the surface, labor statistics for Asian Americans are promising: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median weekly earnings of full-time Asian workers in the first quarter of 2021 was $1,455, which is higher than the median weekly earnings of white workers ($1,197), Black workers ($956), and Hispanic/Latino workers ($827).
Best Option: Let Your Kids Decide If They Want To Study There
The fact is, bringing your kids to America may be a bad idea for education depending on their age. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings in 2018, which measure the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics, and science literacy, the United States ranked 13th in reading, 37th in mathematics, and 18th in science among 78 participating countries and economies.
However, American universities are generally considered to be among the best in the world, with many of them ranking in the top 100 of various international rankings. The United States is home to some of the most prestigious universities, including the Ivy League schools, such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, which are renowned for their academic excellence and research output.
International students contributed approximately $44.7 billion to the US economy in the 2018-2019 academic year. If it weren’t for the large number of foreign students paying exorbitant tuition fees, American colleges would be as pointless as a Florida middle school arguing about banning a book. Pursuing higher education in America is not a bad option, but it’s time to let our children decide for themselves when they are ready.
Overall, why subject them to a system that’s unsustainable and dangerous when there are smarter, safer alternatives out there? The American dream may have once been a beacon of hope, but it’s time for us to recognize it for what it truly is: a nightmare if you are already in a land of opportunity. Perhaps it is a cultural lack of forward-thinking, and looking backward is easier. The future is now and it is Vietnam! The best way to capitalize on that may be to allow your children to study overseas at the university level, but moving there too soon is a mistake.