WINTER 2023 | 43 fine a person,” Rob believes, “but an individual may be perceived by others more by what they look like.” Rob’s parents helped him navigate these challenges growing up, while providing an excellent support system that allowed him and his sister to thrive. “From cooking Korean meals, to letting us experience Korean culture at summer camps, they helped us understand our roots and celebrate our culture. We even hosted exchange students from Korea when I was a kid.” Although there were challenges, Rob is grateful for opportunities that are uncommon for other firstgeneration immigrants. “Many looking to make the journey to our country don’t arrive to a life of stability. They come with nothing. But the American Dream is ingrained in them. They’re inspired by earlier generations of immigrants who are part of the backbone of America, to work toward a life of meaning and prosperity for themselves and their families.” Perhaps only in America can a first-generation immigrant from South Korea and a first-generation American meet and fall in love. Deanna and Rob married recently and will pursue their dreams for the future together. The youngest member of The American Dream Team is Tinashe, born in Zimbabwe, Africa. He is the son of a single mother, raised in one of the world’s poorest countries. The future looked bleak for Tinashe growing up, but thanks to a scholarship grant from the Davis United World Scholars Program, he was given a once-ina-lifetime opportunity to change the trajectory of his life. Tinashe went from herding his grandmother’s goats and cattle in one of the forgotten rural corners of Africa, to finishing his remaining two years of high school in New Mexico. His education went beyond the classroom, though, and included leading expeditions in the wilderness of America’s southwest. “My mother was a teacher and often taught me by way of adages. ‘It does not matter whether the cat is black or white,’ she would often say, ‘as long as it catches mice.’” Her lessons inspired Tinashe to not limit his vision of what is possible. He could overcome his impoverished upbringing and differences in language, culture, or race to achieve his goals and build a successful career. Tinashe recently graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in business. During his final semester he was offered an internship at GlobalFoundries, a global leader in technology manufacturing spanning three continents. Tinashe has come a long way against all odds. “My mom always wanted me to better myself,” Tinashe mused. “I wasn’t going to let her or myself down.” The climb this day was the first venture to the high peaks for Tinashe, Rob, and Deanna. They would ascend to the summit of Gothics at a height of 4,734 feet. Their journey would take them over eleven miles of steep, challenging terrain to accomplish the mission. I must admit that as we approached the trailhead at the start, I was concerned about their ability to reach the summit given their lack of experience. However, with each step along the trail, I could see they were brimming with the kind of confidence and the conviction to succeed that had gotten them this far in their young lives. Given all that they had overcome, all that they had achieved and their zeal for life, I should have never had a doubt. The American Dream is still alive. It belongs to all of us. Everyone has a calling, and we must set forth to not only fulfill our own dreams but to embrace and lift others to realize their dreams as well. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams —Eleanor Roosevelt
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