The American Dream represents the opportunity to pursue one’s aspirations and improve the lives of others, regardless of where you start. My definition of the American Dream is shaped by a personal experience that ignited my passion for mental health equity. When I volunteered as a child tutor in a rural school in Fiji, I befriended a girl named Ana. Ana came from a low-income family and struggled with autism and depression. Her deficits in social interaction and communication skills made her a target for bullying, further exacerbating her mental health challenges. Unfortunately, her family couldn’t afford to send her to see a child psychiatrist, leaving her mental health problems untreated. Utilizing my knowledge of social skills training for children with autism, I helped improve her ability to navigate social situations more effectively through perspective-taking, initiating conversations, and understanding nonverbal cues. Seeing Ana benefit from my help and become happier in school was the most fulfilling experience of my life. Ana’s story stayed with me and became a driving force in my academic and career pursuits. Not only did it highlight the critical issue of barriers to mental health care for children from economically and racially underprivileged backgrounds, but it also ignited my passion for providing accessible mental health treatments for children in need. As an international student majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies at New York University (NYU), I am determined to become a leader in healthcare and policymaking, dedicated to making a positive societal impact. My goal is to advocate for health equity and policy changes, particularly for children in developing nations, where child and adolescent mental health care often lacks attention and financial support. To me, the American Dream embodies the courage to venture into the unknown, the drive to acquire knowledge and skills to become a future global leader, and a deep passion for a tangible goal that benefits society at large. Leaving my home country and coming to the United States alone to pursue my aims required immense courage. However, I feel incredibly lucky to be in the United States because the educational opportunities and resources available here provide me with the tools to become a capable leader to address the mental health care disparities that affected Ana and countless other children like her. The American Dream, for me, is not just about personal success but about using that success to make a meaningful impact on the world. My commitment to this dream drives my academic and volunteer efforts. I currently volunteer at the NYU Langone Health Child Study Center, where we use computational modeling and neuroimaging techniques to optimize interventions for child and adolescent mental health disorders. This hands-on experience is crucial for developing effective strategies to help children in need, both in the United States and globally. The American Dream inspires me to work tirelessly towards ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, has access to the mental health care they need. It is about creating a future where children like Ana can receive the support and treatment they deserve, enabling them to thrive and reach their full potential. In short, the American Dream, to me, is about courage, determination, and a commitment to a greater cause. It is about leveraging the opportunities available in the United States to become a global leader in advocating for health equity and making a positive difference in the lives of children worldwide. Through my education and experiences, I am determined to turn this dream into a reality, ensuring healthy development and happiness for every child in the world.