Living the American Dream | Pooja Mahajan | TEDxGreenville

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
  • Does the American Dream still exist? In this talk, Pooja inspires the listeners to reevaluate the meaning of the American Dream by sharing her personal story of moving to the United States for pursuing the American Dream and failing to achieve it, or not.
    Pooja Mahajan is an environmental engineer working at a global consulting firm in the US. Born and raised in India, Pooja moved to the US in 2010 to pursue her Master’s degree at Clemson University, where she also met her husband. Pooja Mahajan is an environmental engineer working at a global consulting firm in the US. Born and raised in India, Pooja moved to the US in 2010 to pursue her Master's degree at Clemson University, where she also met her husband. A runner up at the 2017 South Carolina’s Toastmasters International Speech contest, Pooja is passionate about storytelling and social entrepreneurship. She has worked with multiple non-profit organizations and is currently working on launching a podcast aimed at creating mental health awareness. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

Комментарии • 152

  • @mosa._.fantasy6869
    @mosa._.fantasy6869 3 года назад +172

    POV: your teacher gave you this to watch so you can write about it later

  • @pshakouri
    @pshakouri 2 года назад +62

    My brother and I came to America from Iran in 2003, I had $700 something dollar in cash. worked our asses off, studied ridiculously hard, no weekends or holidays, worked like a MF. I became a kidney doctor & he a plastic surgeon. No country like it especially the country we were born in. I love this country so much. Please keep it this way

    • @Serpents_and_Doves
      @Serpents_and_Doves 2 года назад +2

      You guys are the faith of the American Dream, faith being the evidence of things hoped for, yet unseen. Keep inspiring.

    • @pshakouri
      @pshakouri 2 года назад +1

      @@Serpents_and_Doves thank you for the beautiful words! You as well!

    • @bootnazz1786
      @bootnazz1786 2 года назад

      You came after the civil rights movement .America was not always like this .they used to have Jim crow laws,lynchings,firebombings,slavery.

    • @WilliamLi-nd4lz
      @WilliamLi-nd4lz 3 месяца назад

      @@bootnazz1786 sure

    • @bootnazz1786
      @bootnazz1786 3 месяца назад

      @@WilliamLi-nd4lz sure what?prove me wrong

  • @nelestratenschulte790
    @nelestratenschulte790 5 лет назад +56

    I really like her view of the American Dream, she is like saying „Your Dream is the American Dream“

  • @nelestratenschulte790
    @nelestratenschulte790 5 лет назад +58

    Well said😊 The American dream is a difficult topic, but I think that it is good to have a dream and to believe in it. Everybody has their own American dream 💫

    • @donp9982
      @donp9982 3 года назад +3

      There’s no such things it’s just a dream . We are all slaves to this system that’s why we pay our taxes

  • @luis1250
    @luis1250 2 года назад +10

    That is a normal situation for an average immigrant, you have to deal with those situations, the only fact of not being born in the US puts you in second place of the list, but it’s understandable for Americans to believe that, at the end of the day, they founded this country for them. People from abroad have to contribute to the country before asking for respect. It is what it is😕😬

    • @anu2390
      @anu2390 10 месяцев назад

      Well, the reality of Indian immigrants in America today is that even after contributing for over a decade to the country's research/ industry and having an approved GC application, they do not get the GC because their priority dates are not current. So their situation today is a lot worse than an average immigrant.

  • @thepoptingz
    @thepoptingz 2 года назад +5

    I could get the opportunity to move to the USA in 3 days. I don't know how things will work out, but I have an idea of the American dream. I turned 24, just 2 days ago...

    • @smakanuwar
      @smakanuwar Год назад

      How did it go?

    • @FormerNewAger-sb2ue
      @FormerNewAger-sb2ue 4 месяца назад

      You can achieve it if you believe it!
      "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip
      - He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you
      - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm
      - He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" - Psalm 121

  • @claudbugheni
    @claudbugheni 2 года назад +1

    This is wonderful and I can completely relate. The American dream is not about the big cars and houses but rather what each person hopes to achieve using the opportunity awarded to them by this prosperous country. Thank you for sharing Pooja.

  • @anilsah2692
    @anilsah2692 3 года назад +6

    These are the times of crisis every other country is struggling to pull back their economy....US is always partial for their citizens.....most of indians are thrown out from jobs in this time of crisi...thankfully in Indian set up there are companies and organisations that are paying for work from home ...pooja that was an eye opener for me thank u....I would do away with this American dream NW👍

  • @Artist1974CH
    @Artist1974CH 4 года назад +80

    George Carlin said it better.
    “That's why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

    • @Artist1974CH
      @Artist1974CH 3 года назад

      ​@Max Von Lowe Anyone who believes in the American Dream is clearly a moron.

    • @jkp7634
      @jkp7634 3 года назад +5

      @@Artist1974CH Asian Americans make twice compared to White Americans, so how is that not their dream. I know it was my parents and they achieved it.

    • @Artist1974CH
      @Artist1974CH 3 года назад +4

      @BernieEinreb371 I am non-believer of that. Even the phrase "American Dream" comes off as arrogant on the part of the USA.

    • @Artist1974CH
      @Artist1974CH 3 года назад +4

      @@jkp7634 From the resources I saw, white Americans cumulate more wealth than any race of people in this country. White Americans do get paid more than any other race of people in these same job positions. Most of the billionaires in the US are white and mostly male. Gender wise, men get paid more than women do in these same job positions. And some people want to know why we have income inequality in the so-called richest country in the world. Capitalism does not and never will benefit the common people.

    • @Artist1974CH
      @Artist1974CH 3 года назад +2

      @BernieEinreb371 It is all about racism, classism, and sexism. All these three things under a sick system called capitalism.

  • @SushrutKanetkar
    @SushrutKanetkar 4 года назад +26

    This is very true. I had same experience. I was denied jobs and visa sponsorships as i was on a student visa. Now i am back in india and leading projects here and doing well. I am a software engineer. I no longer care about the American dream.

    • @Nameless_Faceless
      @Nameless_Faceless Год назад

      most indians are into service sector, doesn't matter if they are at home or abroad.

    • @SushrutKanetkar
      @SushrutKanetkar Год назад

      @@Nameless_Faceless Yes thats true.

  • @ajayuk5464
    @ajayuk5464 4 года назад +14

    My Dream is America 🇺🇲🇺🇲❤️

  • @everythingafterwithmeera
    @everythingafterwithmeera 5 лет назад +13

    Ohh., speechless!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Proud of you!!!!🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

  • @c.h.o.r.i8691
    @c.h.o.r.i8691 3 года назад +5

    I’m watching this because of my teacher

  • @BuserODL
    @BuserODL Год назад

    The American dream is unique to each person. It's not some cookie cutter thing. It's shaped and molded by your will and desires and your work ethic. Your willingness to give for something more than yourself and material desires.

  • @ginaherring8832
    @ginaherring8832 4 года назад +22

    What an amazing lady. Well said Poojah!

  • @jaclynellerie1541
    @jaclynellerie1541 3 года назад +12

    Pooja and I were in the same research group in the environmental engineering department at Clemson from 2010 to 2012, with the same thesis advisor, so I knew her fairly well. I am unsettled by her statement, "I even worked for free when my advisor did not have the funds to pay me." While I do not doubt the truth of her statement, I find it hard to believe her pay was simply cut off instantaneously without any other options presented. Her statement reflects poorly on Clemson, the environmental engineering department, and, worst of all, our advisor, who was one of the most considerate and accommodating people I have ever met. He worked hard to find opportunities for us, arranging trips to conferences and coordinating events that put us in contact with potential employers. He even drove us across the state for a field trip to a desalination plant.
    I did not have a research assistantship at Clemson and was instead a teaching assistant. The pay was approximately equivalent to a research assistantship and was supplemented with a tuition waiver, but of course more work was required, as a TA is expected to balance a research project and TA responsibilities. So the question is, could she not have taken on a teaching assistantship to replace her RA funding? It is so long ago that it is impossible to know for sure, but I do recall that some of the TA's in our department were international students.
    No one can dispute that international students have more challenges, but painting your alma mater in a bad light without providing proper context is in poor taste. Two sides to every story.

    • @nocode659
      @nocode659 3 года назад

      Was she good in studies

    • @gminor6633
      @gminor6633 2 года назад +1

      I don't want to say like this, but I worked with Indian lady before, she was exactly the same way, played victim while gained many benefits. They are great actress.

    • @anu2390
      @anu2390 10 месяцев назад +1

      I do not believe she said anywhere in the speech that her professor cut off her funding instantaneously without notice. Having been an international student myself many years ago, where I worked a TA + 2 PA jobs in addition to my courses and research to get tuition waiver, I can assure you that Profs do routinely have to ask their students to go find such opportunities outside their research group and they are far and few between. I had many well qualified international student peers who had to wait a couple semesters to land such opportunities, and had to pay tuition fees until then.
      This is the reality of American Universities today, that they are dependent on tuition fees paid by international students and do not have enough research/ other funding to provide opportunities to even qualified international students.

  • @SasquatchWithStyle
    @SasquatchWithStyle Год назад +1

    The American Dream is whatever you want it to be. Some people are just way too lazy to chase their American Dream. My American Dream was to have my own handyman service. I'm living my American Dream because I relentlessly chased after it.

  • @FormerNewAger-sb2ue
    @FormerNewAger-sb2ue 4 месяца назад

    I grew up in the United States and I love this country so much. Especially because this country began as a Christian nation. The Capitol building was the first big mega church and the army played the worship band the first presidents were ministers and George Washington, the very first president, dedicated this country to the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Harvard's original precept in 1646 was:
    "Every one shall consider the main End of his life and studies, to know God and Jesus. Christ which is Eternal life"
    The well known "Golden Rule" came from the Bible (Matthew 7:12).
    I was watching a video of a North Koreans getting their eyes treated by a medical foreigner who was given permission by Kim Jung Un. He said the machine he was using was given to them from America. They wouldn't acknowledge America and praised their leader for it.
    Another video I saw was of an orphanage in China. There was a boy on an American DELL computer keyboard, and he was playing Ninja Turtles with English captions. (Sun Villages created by Mrs. Zhang Shuqin)
    Because this nation is so blessed, it has enough to give to other nations. It's quite noble.
    I do love this country, despite the corrupt anti-christian democrats that are trying to destroy it.

  • @Draakie100
    @Draakie100 4 года назад +7

    Everybody has the same "dream", it's being happy in life (jmho). Peace 😊

  • @XYZ-un7ct
    @XYZ-un7ct 2 года назад +4

    I would rather live in India like a first class citizen . Enjoy all festivals and the joyful atmosphere . No India has changed alot , it is comfortable life here too.

    • @ishaan97i
      @ishaan97i Год назад

      Yeah soon india will face the destruction of democracy and war

    • @Ayeinnn69
      @Ayeinnn69 Год назад

      Naa and would never

    • @Gigachad0749
      @Gigachad0749 10 месяцев назад

      @@ishaan97i😂 a Pakistan dream 😂😂

    • @Gigachad0749
      @Gigachad0749 10 месяцев назад

      @@ishaan97inever happen

    • @NotYoutube-cp3qg
      @NotYoutube-cp3qg 7 месяцев назад

      Sir, American festivals are celebrated with love not as formality like most indians

  • @prajwalshewatkar19
    @prajwalshewatkar19 3 года назад +13

    She make it sound more like a drama!

  • @JoeMamma1923u
    @JoeMamma1923u 4 года назад +16

    POV: youre in mrs. Seikkula's class and youre watching this

  • @adritachakravorty7361
    @adritachakravorty7361 5 лет назад +10

    really eye opening speech.. well done Pooja.. very proud of you!

  • @bgbbff
    @bgbbff Год назад +1

    Great talk, and context!

  • @lupeavalos9342
    @lupeavalos9342 2 года назад +2

    I believe in the American you work hard to earn it . I believe in the Canadian dream .

  • @FormerNewAger-sb2ue
    @FormerNewAger-sb2ue 4 месяца назад

    My American dream is made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who blessed this country.

  • @abhishekdate8279
    @abhishekdate8279 5 лет назад +6

    Well Said Pooja👏👏👏

  • @simhasEdits
    @simhasEdits Год назад

    Tears Say the answer of this video 🥺

  • @syamsulalung3455
    @syamsulalung3455 3 года назад +1

    Amazing

  • @marlinlord-_-4738
    @marlinlord-_-4738 3 года назад +4

    POV: You've just finished playing GTA IV

  • @Vishal138
    @Vishal138 5 лет назад +5

    Perfect speech

  • @amberheard2433
    @amberheard2433 Год назад +2

    This is a good short video but I feel sad for Indians and Chinese. They are being denied greencard by US politicians. US politicians always promise reform and hope for poor H1Bs but don't do anything. Just dangling a carrot and laughing. No point coming to study in US. See the following article and see for your self that no one is willing to do anything for Indians and Chinese. No point getting stuck in an endless green card wait. Read the article about the green card nightmare for high skill people of India and China:
    Search for article:
    Eagle Act- The politics behind denying equality to legal immigrants in America
    By Rohit Sharma

    • @FormerNewAger-sb2ue
      @FormerNewAger-sb2ue 4 месяца назад

      I visited UCSD (University of California San Diego) about one month ago and it was filled with Indian students. And when I went much further north to shop at a Costco, the majority demographic comprised of Indians and Chinese.
      When I lived in New Jersey, it's got neighborhoods of every race, such as Dominicans all together, blacks lived all together in one neighborhood, Puerto Ricans, etc. Races feel more comfortable being around their own.

  • @rockin2moon
    @rockin2moon 4 года назад +1

    Wow!!

  • @rahulps8616
    @rahulps8616 4 года назад +8

    You'd have respect your motherland at first..Motherland above all ! India above All for Indians and America above all fir Americans.

  • @marychacko9462
    @marychacko9462 2 года назад +1

    👍👍

  • @smuttywayss
    @smuttywayss 3 года назад +2

    Explain how pooja bavishi is living the American dream

  • @user-qi7tj7fx4q
    @user-qi7tj7fx4q 3 года назад

    yes

  • @KarlenkoFisher
    @KarlenkoFisher 7 месяцев назад

    That is also actually the Sri Lankan dream, 6:48

  • @MaheshM-xu1gm
    @MaheshM-xu1gm 4 года назад +2

    Welcome back to India..future belongs to us..

  • @Hannahberry204
    @Hannahberry204 Год назад +1

    POV: you’re here for the AMS seminar

  • @supersmart671
    @supersmart671 Год назад +2

    Have you ever asked why your home country is the way it is....

    • @Alphafx22
      @Alphafx22 Год назад

      Due to politics and corruption

    • @supersmart671
      @supersmart671 Год назад

      @@Alphafx22 That's just the symptom....

    • @Sourav-pf8tb
      @Sourav-pf8tb 6 месяцев назад

      because of the backward mindset of most of the people and culture and society

    • @supersmart671
      @supersmart671 6 месяцев назад

      @@Sourav-pf8tb and why is the culture that way?

  • @sarahharman9879
    @sarahharman9879 4 года назад +9

    Pooja what is this behavior?

  • @user-qi7tj7fx4q
    @user-qi7tj7fx4q 3 года назад +3

    Go To Canada or japan or austraila or europe or new zealand
    its more beutifull and cool
    than united state america.

    • @user-fo9kt3rq3d
      @user-fo9kt3rq3d 3 года назад

      but what about india or the rest of under developed and developing countries,if everyone left who will stay?

    • @smoaky123
      @smoaky123 3 года назад +5

      The untied states is absolutely gorgeous, it is a massive place with rainforest, frozen tundras, huge cannons, mountains, and deserts. We have national parks the size of the entire UK.

  • @erdemfsas5955
    @erdemfsas5955 3 года назад

    oh my god, I love you

  • @azharsheik1
    @azharsheik1 4 года назад +5

    Tried 5 times f1 visa and mba drop out aged 26 I'm right now a useless was born for nothing .

    • @SuperBhavanishankar
      @SuperBhavanishankar 4 года назад +6

      bro you should really think about trying to learn for Business Analyst. because Business Intelligence is future. do course on business analysis.

    • @azharsheik1
      @azharsheik1 4 года назад

      @@SuperBhavanishankar i have no math skills

    • @SuperBhavanishankar
      @SuperBhavanishankar 4 года назад +1

      @@azharsheik1 math no need. Exploratory Data Analysis is needed and MS Excel are needed. Basic math is enough. Just try bro if you have time. Don't worry bro.

    • @azharsheik1
      @azharsheik1 4 года назад

      @@SuperBhavanishankar where should i go for it diploma in canada

    • @SuperBhavanishankar
      @SuperBhavanishankar 4 года назад

      @@azharsheik1 really don't know bro. better learn from MOOCs and save money 💰

  • @Vontharau47
    @Vontharau47 4 года назад +8

    The American Dream is easier to acchieve in northern Europe nowdays. USA was cool 40 years ago. Now it sucks.

  • @adityasingh1657
    @adityasingh1657 Год назад

    She has become a US citizen by now

  • @ambersky1068
    @ambersky1068 2 года назад +1

    7:45 1:50 7:20

    • @Not_Adalia
      @Not_Adalia Год назад

      what are these timestamps for

    • @ambersky1068
      @ambersky1068 Год назад

      @@Not_Adalia A project I was doing last school year lol

    • @Not_Adalia
      @Not_Adalia Год назад +1

      @@ambersky1068 yo those might he helpful bc im doing something for school right now. I’ll see if they help :)

  • @JoeMamma1923u
    @JoeMamma1923u 4 года назад +1

    WASSUP SEIKKULA'S CLASS

  • @-piexvv9r-619
    @-piexvv9r-619 10 месяцев назад

    Why did school made me watch this?

  • @brawler_baysoi_mld
    @brawler_baysoi_mld 3 года назад

    POV: mọi người xem video này vì phải làm bài của thầy Vũ

  • @tanmaykakati8658
    @tanmaykakati8658 3 года назад +6

    Did the Indian dream not lure you to stay in India? You'd have been a 1st class citizen here for sure.

  • @anupkumar3051
    @anupkumar3051 2 года назад +2

    She is clearing using victim card...the rules she spoke about are same for all and Boss don't scold her without a reason...she wants a smooth road for big American dream... Useless Ted talk....I myself been that place I cleaned washroom 8💲/hr as part-time no point highlights things you do for betterment of ur own life !!

  • @WORLDCITIZEN2004
    @WORLDCITIZEN2004 4 года назад

    Life is tough ... Girl..

    • @iamsogreat2951
      @iamsogreat2951 3 года назад +3

      No,it's easy if one works hard,bro

  • @grgr8238
    @grgr8238 5 лет назад +2

    i m the American dream

  • @diegogarza2590
    @diegogarza2590 3 года назад

    POV: your in mr. rimplers class

  • @JoeMamma1923u
    @JoeMamma1923u 4 года назад +1

    SEIKKULA CLASS

  • @PeetForYouAll
    @PeetForYouAll Год назад

    เธอชื่อ บูชา มหาจาน

  • @peytonmarshall7398
    @peytonmarshall7398 3 года назад

    E

  • @sagnikdev5378
    @sagnikdev5378 2 года назад

    American dream, more like 'America is the only country in the World ikr' dream?

  • @Utpal-fj4hk
    @Utpal-fj4hk 3 года назад

    But i will prefer canada over america
    For my dreams

  • @JoeMamma1923u
    @JoeMamma1923u 4 года назад

    WASSUP MRS. SEIKKULA

  • @JoeMamma1923u
    @JoeMamma1923u 4 года назад

    BRUH

  • @MedMed-ny9ut
    @MedMed-ny9ut 5 месяцев назад

    U lie i lie😂

  • @nocode659
    @nocode659 3 года назад

    U should try acting

  • @drganesan62
    @drganesan62 3 года назад +3

    American dream is a myth

  • @Anonymous-lb3fn
    @Anonymous-lb3fn 3 года назад +2

    Many jealous salty people are available here.

    • @danielp2491
      @danielp2491 2 года назад

      na people are just speaking facts

  • @insertfunnyname3478
    @insertfunnyname3478 4 года назад +6

    It’s dead, the dream was a wife and kids In a nice house with a loving family. Not a job stealing immigrant that has helped ruin our economy.

    • @ezio934
      @ezio934 4 года назад +3

      @Abhinay Ambati He is not wrong. He is a citizen of america and he has right to say it. Imagine not getting a job in your own country because it has already been taken by other immigrants from almost all parts of the world.

    • @cookiecake6144
      @cookiecake6144 3 года назад +4

      Your ancestors were immigrants who never immigrated so idk what you're talking about. Also consider that maybe Americans need to be more qualified rather than beating everyone else down, as they're so used to.

    • @inspirex1831
      @inspirex1831 3 года назад +1

      @@ezio934 Same with indians , We dont get Good paying jobe Here so We Have to come to USA after 100 year 20% population would be indian in usa

    • @user-qi7tj7fx4q
      @user-qi7tj7fx4q 3 года назад

      @@cookiecake6144
      yes bro

  • @MedMed-ny9ut
    @MedMed-ny9ut 5 месяцев назад

    U lie