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Introduction
Introduction
For my Wesearch product in U.S. History, I chose to interview and write about my grandma, Monica Alli ( 1957- ). I selected my grandma because she was the first of her family to move to America and start to build a life here, and she moved here to New York in 2003. My grandma has always supported me in whatever I wanted to do, and she has always told me that I've made her proud of how far I've come in life. As I have more opportunities here in America, than she did in Guyana. In preparing for this product, I interviewed my grandma twice. I sat with her as I wrote my essay to get more information about her life in Guyana, while also researching the historical background in Guyana, and what was happening while my grandma was growing up. Some fact that I learned about my grandma is that, she has a sister who sadly passed away before she moved to America. Talking to my grandma and looking at pictures with her, was the first time that I heard of this sister and seeing what she looked at. Another fact that just added to what I already knew is how thoughtful and selfless my grandma is towards others. She sacrificed everything that she had over in Guyana, to start a new life for her children because she wanted the best for them. Lastly, another fact is learning about all the jobs she had over in Guyana to help make money for her family.
A Brief Biography
A Brief Biography
Monica was born on August 28th, 1957 in Essequibo Island, Guyana. Her parents were Harry and Doris Lall, and she's the 4th of 8 children. She was born in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana. Guyana (then named Guiana) was first ruled by the Dutch, then the British in 1814. Guyana gained independence on May 26th, 1966, after gaining its independence Guiana (which means Land of the Water) changed its name to Guyana, to reflect and grow from its past, and now Guyana is a republic and has a president.
Monica has 2 daughters, Rabena Alli (my mom), and Raseefa Lall. They were born 14 years apart, and both moved here with her in 2003. Monica moved here to New York to get better opportunities for her daughters. She wanted them to achieve the things they wanted in life and for them to do so she had to move. New York was just a random place she chose to move. Here she lived with her sister-in-law in Rosedale, found a job in the airport, helped her older daughter find a job, and sent her youngest daughter to high school.
In Guyana the school system is primary (ages 6-11), then secondary (ages 12-16). Monica was able to complete secondary school, but when she came here to America, she didn't have any opportunities to get a higher education. This is another reason she moved here, so her daughters could get a better education, and her grandchildren's later on in life.
Essequibo Island-West Demerara, Guyana.
Located in South America.
How does your individual family member's story help you understand the American Dream?
How does your individual family member's story help you understand the American Dream?
My grandmother's story defined the American Dream as a goal or achievement that makes you happy and helps you live a successful life with the people you love and the future people of your family. To Monica, the American Dream is “achieving the things that make you happy and can help you live a successful life. To live happily with my children and grandchildren”. To have something to stabilize her family in, and watch her daughters and grandchildren grow up and be there for them. To have something to stabilize her family in, and watch her daughters and grandchildren grow up and be there for them.
This statement has helped me understand the American Dream, as it doesn't have to be an objective thing more of an idealist thing. As long as you're happy doing what you're doing and living your best life, nothing else matters and you've met your American Dream. The American Dream doesn't have to be materialistic things, depending on the person something is more objective.
Excerpt from Family Narrative
Excerpt from Family Narrative
"Moving to America wasn’t easy, leaving her mother and one of her brother behind was difficult for Monica. “Even though my mother encouraged me to come, leaving her and every memory she had behind wasn’t something she ever thought of”. Monica took a plane ride from Guyana to New York with her 2 daughters and started to build a life. The ups and downs of building a life in a city that Monica didn’t know anything about was difficult, especially with 2 daughters".
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