The American Dream has long been a symbol of hope, opportunity, and success. However, for some members of Gen Z, the dream appears to be fading, leading them to seek better opportunities abroad. In a recent video by NBC’s Stay Tuned titled “First generation Gen Z’ers are moving abroad for a better life,” hosted by Maya Eaglin, the reality of this trend is explored through the story of Rania Salah, a first-generation American who is ready to leave the U.S. in search of a better life.
Rania Salah: A Journey of Disillusionment
Rania Salah was born in Virginia to Palestinian parents and spent much of her childhood in Jordan before returning to the U.S. at the age of 15. Despite earning a full-ride scholarship to American University and graduating in 2022 with a degree in public health, Rania found herself struggling with job security and her health. She suffers from lupus, an autoimmune disease that significantly impacts her quality of life. As she shares with Maya Eaglin, Rania’s struggles have led her to a stark realization: the American Dream is not working out for her.
The Harsh Realities of the American Dream
Despite her education and qualifications, Rania struggled to find a stable job. “I graduated, immediately started working, but I have lupus, so my go-go-go was forcibly stopped,” she explains. Rania’s health condition worsened, forcing her to quit her job, and despite applying for over 500 positions, she remained unemployed. The constant rejection led to a deep depression, and she began to question her worth and future in the United States.
The Decision to Leave the U.S.
After months of frustration, Rania’s father reminded her that she was not trapped in the U.S. “You’re not stuck there, you know that, right?” he told her. This conversation became the turning point for Rania, who then made the bold decision to leave America. She plans to move to Qatar, where her sister has already relocated and found a better quality of life. Rania sees Qatar as the perfect option, offering financial stability, better job prospects, and a supportive environment for her health.
Economic Pressures Pushing Gen Z to Leave
Rania’s story is not unique. Economic pressures, including rising rents, inflation, and stagnant wages, are making it difficult for many in Gen Z to achieve the same level of success as their parents. As Maya Eaglin notes, food prices rose by 3.3% from May 2023 to May 2024, and rent has steadily increased since the pandemic. For Rania, the cost of living in Washington, D.C., became unsustainable. “Rent is always a huge stressor. My car payments… on a day-to-day, it looks like your friends asking you out to eat and you say, actually, I can’t,” she says.
The American Dream: A Broken Promise?
Jeanne Batalova, Senior Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, adds context to the situation, noting that while the American Dream promises success for those who work hard, this is not always the case. Batalova highlights that incomes have not kept pace with the cost of living, making it increasingly difficult for young people to establish themselves in the U.S. As a result, some are choosing to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad.
A Growing Trend: Americans Moving Abroad
The trend of Americans moving abroad is growing. According to the United Nations, nearly 3 million Americans now live in other countries, a significant increase from previous decades. For many, like Rania, moving abroad offers a chance to escape the economic pressures and find a better quality of life. Despite leaving, Rania plans to keep her American citizenship, though she admits that she no longer feels a connection to American politics. “I think American politics is a joke,” she says, expressing her disillusionment with the current system.
Balancing Rights and Quality of Life
One of the major questions Rania had to consider was the trade-off between the rights she enjoys in the U.S. and the better quality of life she anticipates in Qatar. “On the outside, it might seem like I’m giving up my right to democracy… but to give up my right to vote as a trade for a significantly better quality of life… I’m so lucky and privileged,” she acknowledges.
“The American Dream is to Leave America”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “She’s absolutely correct about the quality of food. It’s so much better in other countries.”
Another person said: “The best way to understand the US is to live abroad. Most Americans can’t or won’t have that opportunity and that breeds a lot of illusion about US quality of life. I’ve lived all over the world including the Middle East and the US is my least favorite place to be. The food quality is a huge issue as we see from the National health crisis. Go Rania!”
One commenter concluded: “today, the american dream is to leave america.”
The Impact of Moving Abroad
As more Gen Z’ers like Rania choose to leave the U.S., it raises questions about the future of the American Dream and the factors driving this exodus. Rania’s story is a reflection of broader societal issues, including economic inequality, healthcare challenges, and the limitations of the U.S. job market. Her decision to move abroad is a powerful statement about the need for change and the lengths to which some are willing to go in search of a better life.
Economic Pressures
What are your thoughts? What does Rania’s story say about the current state of the American Dream? How are economic pressures like rising rents and inflation affecting the decisions of young Americans to stay or leave the country? What role does healthcare play in the decision to move abroad for many Gen Z’ers?
Check out the entire video for more information on Stay Tuned’s YouTube channel here.
