By Alexa Deyo
O grew up in New York during the Cold War era. Not having much money growing up, O found it his mission in life to provide more for his own children than he had. A big part of his American Dream revolves around being financially stable. Consequently, O has worked multiple jobs at once throughout his life in order to achieve this Dream. O told me a story during our interview in which he was a leading IRS tax agent during the day and a pizza driver by night. O was in his late 20s during this time; he had a newborn child and a wife, he was starting a family in which he needed to provide for. During a delivery shift one night, O had appeared at the house of another IRS colleague. O felt embarrassed and ashamed after leaving. He felt inferior to his colleague’s the following weeks, even though he was just as knowledgeable. This was a pivotal moment in O’s understanding of the American Dream. He was working day and night in order to survive and life his genuine American Dream. For O, the American Dream consists of being financially secure. In order to attain this dream, O has found that it is a never ending hustle that requires innate drive and motivation.
O is…
- 59 Years-Old
- Male, Cisgender
- White
- Roman Catholic
- Upper Middle Class
- Straight