While interviewing U, a filmmaker currently living in California, it was apparent that her American Dream changed after she left college. This intrigued me since I have yet to graduate college and because her finances directly attributed to this shift.
U was born to two immigrant parents: one Southeast Asian and one South Asian. From a young age, her parents influenced her decision to pursue a college education. She blames it on their “immigrant mentality… like work hard [and] go to school,” and her family’s lower middle-class SES. These two factors fueled her belief that she needed to go to school, get scholarships, and do well in class. However, U’s parents were also very positive and never tried to force her field of study. Eventually, U (with grants and student loans) decided to attend a New York university as a Television, Radio, and Film student.
After going to college, it made [me] more critical of the United States as a country”
U’s worldviews started to change now that she had left California and was starting to think independently. “After going to college, it made [me] more critical of the United States as a country,” bringing up America’s mistreatment of immigrants like her parent. U was changing, becoming more aware of the reality of living in America beyond the “land of opportunity” her parents had experienced.
After graduating, U and a couple of her friends founded a production company called Out There Productions and began traveling the country in an old school bus. U believed that due to her college experience and internship opportunities, she fully understood the entertainment industry and was ready to start her own production company. However, during these trips U continued to experience America for herself by being herself, and was finding out that the lifestyle she was currently living was unsustainable.
Until now, U’s American Dream had been to live with her friends, be valued for her skills as a creative partner, and be accepted for who she was. However, now her American Dream understands that she must balance the creative with the financially viable. “We were making life capital, we weren’t making capital capital,” U said when looking back. U and her friends eventually dismantled the production company and went their separate ways, with her now aware of the importance of finances when pursuing her dreams. And while she still treasures creativity, monetary value of her work remains and important consideration.
U is…
- 25 Years-Old
- Female, Cisgender
- East Asian
- Southeast Asian and South Asian
- Lower Middle Class
- Hetero
