We Americans are citizens of a global minority. We join those who live in a select few countries as participants in a social experiment called freedom. Holding an American passport allows us the freedom to speak what's on our on tongues, the freedom to believe what's in our hearts, and the freedom pursue the dreams that flood our minds. This how I understand the American Dream and I have experienced it firsthand.

There is a nasty stereotype associated with third generation immigrants. It is said that the first generation arrives to a new place, works hard to feed their family, and ensure that their children receive the best education possible. In light of their family's hardships, the second generation studies diligently and enters a professional field like
law or medicine. The third generation enters the world entitled, as part of a middle to upper-middle class family, and cruises through life comfortably with minimal effort. I am a third generation immigrant, and I strive to wrong this stereotype.

Raul, my business partner, and I devised the idea for Miayos in the summer of 2009. Like so many other Americans who pursue their business ventures, we treated Miayos as if it was our child. Nearly 3 years later, we can can proudly say that we, as sons of immigrant families, have launched a company that we can call our own. People
congratulate us, and celebrate the fact that we have overcome the stereotype and embraced the American Dream.

For us, this is only a stepping stone. We realize the hardships the majority of people around the globe experience everyday: no access to clean water, lack of food, and unsanitary living conditions are just the first that come to mind. Because of this realization, we do not rate our success by our profits. We cannot fulfill the American Dream until we know that we have helped people who do not hold our like-passport, do not have the freedom to speak what's on their tongues, do not have the freedom to believe what's in their hearts, and do not have the freedom to pursue the dreams that flood their minds.

By using a portion of Miayos's revenue, we will extend the reach of the American Dream as far as we can, and only then will we reach our own American Dream.