You’ve heard the quintessential immigrant tale
The romanticized version of overcoming odds that never fails
To impress people, the individual saga of struggles that stands out
In an essay or personal statement, that is admirable without doubt
Each immigrant is expected to have a similar story to tell
Of escape from poverty, persecution and living in hell
To the beacon of hope where they’ve come to realize
The American Dream, the unmatched prize
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Your immigrant story has no harrowing details
You don’t have a rags to riches tale
You did not escape persecution of any kind
It’s not that employment you were unable to find
In your home country- none of those scenarios applied to you
You came out of sheer curiosity- it does not sound convincing, but it is actually true
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You did stay and have made a home here
You have changed since you arrived, that much is clear
You gained some, but there was much you lost
Immigration was an opportunity you availed of, at a cost
Whether your life is better here is difficult to say
Your life is not a fable on immigrant success anyway
Passion...unbridled 