1. Where It Begins

Ellis Island is the first piece that helped build an American life and the place that bonded my family to the United States. It’s where my great-grandfather first stepped foot on American soil. From that first foot step on ward he created a life here in America that would open doors not only for himself but for the generations of the Franco family to follow. My great-grandfather took the first leap of faith that would secure his family’s continuous growth from the 1900s to now. Ellis Island is the first stepping stone on the path to a better life for my great-grandfather. He came to America with nothing but through America gained more than he could’ve ever dreamed of.

2. Baby Steps

My great-grandfather came to America with little ability to speak English but with lots of hope to become a true American. My great-grandfather worked odd jobs day in and day out to make ends meet for his family when he first moved to America. After finding a stable job cutting hair he mastered his craft and saved enough to buy his first home for his family in Coney Island. A home is the second bit because it’s where my great-grandfather saw his hopes for a better life becoming a reality. America was built by those who wanted to a better life for themselves. They left their country to create a place where they would be accepted and where they would prosper but most importantly they created a home for themselves. America became a home to grow their family for generations to come- a place where they could make the life they dreamed of.

3. Giving Back

My great-grandfather had so much love for America. The country that let him reap the benefits of his hard work that he otherwise wouldn’t have in Italy held a special place in his heart and he made sure everyone knew that. My great-grandfather instilled that love for America into his son, my grandfather, which led my grandfather to enlisting in the army in World War II. He wanted to give back to the country that gave his family everything. My third piece that helped build an American life is what one can give back to America whether it be their service in the army like my grandfather or their service to the people as a doctor. Being American is not just the opportunities this country gives you to better yourself but also the opportunities you give to your country to make it better.

4. Moving On Up

My grandfather came back from the war with an even greater love for his country and the want to build something from the ground up. His want turned into an idea and through lots of hard work and saving money he turned it into a reality when he opened up his own grocery store in the heart of Coney Island. It was the first thing he owned all by himself, his pride and joy, his thoughts turned into creation and it was a success. Dreams are my fourth bits and pieces. American accomplishments are born because of a dream for something whether its a dream of creating something on their own or a dream of bringing justice to the American people as a lawyer. Those dreams give them the want to work hard and to take leaps of faith that would open up the opportunities that would make them successful.

5. Another Leap

Not every aspect of American opportunity is sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes opportunity comes in the form of a breakdown of another opportunity. Urban Renewal was taking over New York and with that they took over my grandfather’s grocery store. Instead of fighting it and losing even more, my grandfather picked up his family and moved to Florida. The move to Florida ended up being extremely beneficial to his family but yet again it was a leap of faith that led him to that opportunity. My fifth bit is failure. Every single person has failed at something in their life but through failure comes a renewed purpose for their goals. Failure forces people to go outside their comfort zone and to work for another way to get to succeed. Failure opens doors they didn’t even know were there, making opportunities they didn’t even know existed.

6. Another First

As successful as my great-grandfather and my grandfather were, no one in my family had a college degree yet. It wasn’t until my father, my grandfather’s second born, decided to go to the University of Florida did anyone in my receive a college diploma. My grandfather’s dreams of a better life for his children were becoming a reality. Education is my seventh piece. Education is the master key to almost every door that one wants to open. Education in America gives a person equity which grants them opportunities others who aren’t educated can’t receive.

7. Dreams Made into Reality

My final bit that helped build an American life is faith. Without faith my great-grandfather wouldn’t have come to America. Without faith my grandfather wouldn’t have moved to Florida after losing it all. Everyone has faith in something whether it’s faith that everything will work out the way it’s supposed to or faith that you can accomplish your goals. All of my great-grandfather and grandfather’s dreams of a better life for their children have become reality. My great-grandfather created a life in America that would foster a better life for his son who would then create an even better life for his children. My grandfather put three out of his four children through college and every single one of his seven grandchildren are in or have already graduated from college.

An American life is created through ideas and places that take root and foster each person to do what they can to make the life they always dreamed of. Ideas give motivation for the future and places create memories to look back on. These bits and pieces together build up generation after generation and over time to create stories of goals achieved and American dreams turned into reality.