My generation grew up with an underlying, subliminal message. Many of us did not even realize it was there; but it was. This message was telling us: “You can do anything as long as you put you mind to it!!” And we held this as truth.

We were told that we can be anything we want to be, go anywhere we want to go, rise from the ashes and explode with conviction and revel in success! But why are we given this privilege? Because godammit, we are Americans! Americans can make the impossible, a reality. This is, “The American Dream”.

Now this was not always done overtly, but I can give you a great example of how young people from my generation have been ingrained with this message. Every PE Coach who doubles as a 6th grade Health teacher, has conspired to show one of America’s classic films: “Rudy”. It must be in the curriculum somewhere.

“When people say dreams don’t come true, tell them about Rudy”.

Quick Synopsis: Sean Austin plays a runt named, Rudy, who had always been told that he was just too small to play college football. He was a true-willed, good-hearted, a morally upstanding individual who put his entire being into overcoming the odds to become a football player at Notre Dame. With hard work and determination, not only does he become a player but he also wins the game. Everyone cries at the end.

I just don’t know how such a big heart fit into such a little body.

Growing up in a generation where we are told that the sky is the limit as long as we work hard and follow our hearts… well we do it! We work and work and work… thinking some day we will get there. We watch television and see what the world has to offer and we want it! All of it! Vacationing in exotic lands in remote destinations, pimped out corollas on top of 22’s and celebrity shopping sprees equaling an entire third-world country’s spending on medical supplies. We want all of it.

My parents came here as refugees and they had absolutely nothing when they got here. Yet somehow they were able to hastily shed themselves of their pasts and quickly adopted, “The American Dream”. And who wouldn’t believe it when the whole paradigm is based on the theory that you can be anything you want to be?! White America told them in the 70’s, “You go Vietnamese People! You go and you make something of yourselves! Live here in Orange County where the orange groves grow as far as the eye can see. Build your homes and raise your children to follow their dreams too!”

My parents were sold! My parents wanted me to follow my dreams and become a Pharmacist. Can you imagine that? Me, a pharmacist? Picture this: petite Asian girl standing behind counter of Rite-Aid pharmacy. This scene does not sound very weird does it? Perhaps it is because many of my peers were following our parents’ dreams. The only thing that comes to my mind when I think of pharmacy is: xanax for a long night of drinking, adderrall for a long night of studying, and I hope this blue dolphin isn’t as cracky as the last one because I swear to god, this is the LAST time!

What does this have to do with the decline of the dollar? Well, I am no economicist or an expert in financial things, but I do know that something is happening and the earth feels shaky. I find myself on Craigslist looking at ads and thinking to myself, “I guess a few naked pictures for someone’s private collection wouldn’t be thaaaaaaaat bad… I mean, that Paris Hilton has a whole video out there and people love her!”

But I am no Paris. I am just a starving kid trying to make it in this world and I just can’t seem to find my way, even though they told me that all my hard work will pay off. Maybe they just don’t know where to send the check?

The dollar is sinking further and further and the market has completely crashed. It feels as if a stampede of wild animals is off in the distance and we are watching the rocks rattle against the pavement. Almost as if we were waiting for the stampede to pass us by or come right at us for utter defeat. With the upcoming election, I feel hopeful that whoever is going to take office (preferably my long-time boyfriend, Barack Obama) will bring us new hope that things will get better. Because knowing that the dollar is swiftly declining, leaves me feeling completely vulnerable.

Did Rudy feel this vulnerability?

My best friend has also felt this vulnerability in a very different way. He has always been super savvy at computer things that I just don’t understand. I may be the last 26 year-old who doesn’t have a paypal account! With that in mind, he has also found us to be as vulnerable as ever on a very special entity called: ebay. All our American purchasing power has been completely lost because all those people from the UK and Tokyo are outbidding us again and again. We simply just can’t compete when bidding with the US dollar. And no one likes to lose.

So in the meantime, it is time to pretend. To pretend as though we are as strong as ever and believe that Iraq is a complete success. We need to pretend that the “American Dream” is something we inherit and all of our hard work will one day be our profit. We will pretend that our credit cards aren’t completely maxed out and continue on with indulgences like concert tickets and iPhones.

But then again, I do believe. I believe that because I followed my dreams and not my parents, that I will someday have a byline that will make them so proud, it will bring tears to their eyes. I believe that Obama will bring change and hope to our country. And I believe that my generation, the grown-up youth, will rise from the ashes of the declining dollar and outbid anyone they want on ebay. I believe in Rudy.