SELF-MADE

Over and over again I hear that there are no self-made people, because each of us gets some help or support.

Let me tell you something on the subject.

I’m a first generation American and most of my students and friends are first generation Americans. 

We, immigrants, come here with nothing, but a dream. 

Many of us have to go through hunger, horrible living conditions and years of struggle on so many levels.

We don't have rich VC daddy who could buy our way into Ivy League college and set up a nice position at his firm on Sand Hill Road. In fact, we don’t even have a parents’ basement as plan “B” if something goes wrong.

Very often we need to learn a new profession and lower our social rank.

In America, we are often ridiculed because of our accents, beliefs or traditions, but we are also misunderstood and estranged in countries where we come from.

 So, the question is WHY we come to America knowing about all that hardships?

Because we have a DREAM of making something out of ourselves, out of our lives and out of gifts that we want to develop and share with others.

We come here because America like no other country can embrace dreamers and trailblazers.

And our gratitude goes a long way: just check how many businesses are founded by a first generation immigrants! What would Silicon Valley be without Yahoo!, PayPal or Google to name a few? 

But no favorable conditions would produce fruit if there are no people who would go above and beyond to do something great with their lives. 

And these people can proudly call themselves SELF-MADE because they have achieved what others: lazy, non-proactive, fearful, or born with silver spoon, will never achieve in the same circumstances.

So from all self-made immigrants, I say: Thank you, America and you are welcome, America!