The Crowder Law Firm Scholarship Fall 2023 Winner

Anna La

Anna's essay on "How Do You Define The American Dream?" perfectly embodies what the American Dream is all about. Curiosity, determination, and gratitude are values that she clearly describes and lives by on a daily basis. She has an amazing story full of accomplishments, and we could not be more honored to award her with the Fall 2023 Crowder Law Firm Scholarship.

Read Anna's Essay:

Curiosity, resoluteness, and gratitude, these three words symbolize the "American Dream" to me. My parents and I are immigrants and growing up, my parents instilled resoluteness in me. My father had a difficult childhood, but he came to America optimistic, in pursuit of the idea of the "American Dream" so that his future children could have a better life. He was determined to achieve more, despite his lack of English and money. From him, I learned the power of hard work and that success doesn’t always come from a diploma. I learned that I have control over my future, to fight for my dreams, and never give up. I learned that there are multiple paths to success and that I must seek and create new opportunities for myself. He has influenced my view of hard work and sacrifice in pursuit of one's goals. He showed me how to be brave when being brave seemed impossible; he gives me the courage to keep fighting for my dreams. This is why I carry resoluteness with me. This is a significant aspect of my American dream. It’s the fact that it doesn’t matter where you come from, regardless of your background or race, you can achieve greatness with hard work, determination, and resoluteness. I've also learned to prioritize my progress and growth over the unattainable idea of "perfection." My father taught me that "success" is more than just wealth; I define it as creating a life for yourself that you truly love; that was my ultimate goal, my American dream. I want to wake up every morning loving my life and feeling proud of myself for working hard and never giving up.

Like my father, my mother also had a tough childhood. She desired a better future and knew that her only way out was to get a good education. She achieved that goal but gave it up in order to come to America to give her children more opportunities for a better future. When she left Vietnam, she lost her degree and had to start over with no knowledge of English. From her, I learned the value of getting a good education, resilience, and gratitude. I learned the importance of sacrifice and that a bad start doesn’t always imply a bad ending. I was instilled with strong family values and taught to see the positive no matter what life throws at you. I learned from her the power of empathy which has taught me kindness for strangers and fostered my love for helping others. Empathy showed me gratitude, which is something I carry with me every day. It is what illuminates my world and guides my judgment. I've discovered the beauty and power of being grateful. This is why gratitude is so important to me. Gratitude for me, symbolizes the American dream because it represents the pursuit of opportunity. The American dream is possible with new opportunities, the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world, and to create new and innovative things.

My curiosity stems from being born in Vietnam and immigrating to America at a young age. When I first came to America, I didn’t know any English and had no idea where I was or why I was here, so everything was new to me. Growing up in an unfamiliar environment led me to always ask questions. This curiosity aspect of myself has never left me, and it’s what fuels my creativity and passion for learning. This is a part of myself that I hope I never lose. Growing up in a predominantly white, small, southern town, where everyone essentially had the same

beliefs caused me to spend the majority of my life introverted, scared, and shy because I never felt like I "belonged.". It was through pushing myself outside of my comfort zone every day, taking on leadership roles in my extracurricular activities, planning community projects, volunteering, public speaking, designing websites, and my podcast that helped me discover the voice that I never knew I had. When volunteering, all of my problems vanished because I’m focused on something bigger than myself, that’s why I love it so much, and this motivated me to actively seek the impact I could have on my community. This to me was my American dream; I had the opportunity to give back to a community that had given me so much. This fall, I will continue to pursue my American dream as an honors student triple majoring in economics, marketing, and international business at Berry College. These three words have shaped who I am as an individual, guided my constantly evolving perspective on the world, and influenced how I treat others. I am not Anna without these words and combined, they’re my American dream.

I believe that the American dream is now more accessible than ever, thanks to the abundance of resources, such as new technologies, that are now available. It is so simple to keep learning and gaining new knowledge across so many different diverse areas because, in our generation, most homes have access to the internet now. These resources are out there, but people aren’t willing to take advantage of these amazing opportunities to learn and grow. Instead, people will use the excuse "I've always been like this." to justify their laziness; the best response is "yes, and how's that going for you?". It’s up to you to have the courage to change if you’re unhappy with where or who you are. The American dream is opportunity, but it is not waiting around for someone to come save you, sometimes you have to be your own hero. It is about the eagerness to pursue new opportunities, the determination to persevere, and the gratitude that, while you are not yet where you want to be, you are not where you used to be. The American dream means numerous things to distinct people, but I am grateful for it and for the opportunity to be able to create my own American dream.