Hello, Moth Family. Have you listened to our new podcast, Grown Yet?

Grown, that's GR-O-W-N, is a podcast filled with true stories all about the joys and pains of

growing up. Listen with a young person in your life, or by yourself to hear Moth Stories,

Storyteller interviews, and audio diaries from young voices that tackle family dynamics,

heartbreak, culture, mental health, and so much more. If you love listening to Moth Stories,

then share Grown with a young person in your life, find it by searching GR-O-W-N on all major

podcast platforms. Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Larry Rosen, master and structure of the Moth,

and your host for this Independence Day episode. The term the American Dream is often attributed

to author and historian James Truslow Adams. Adams spoke of an Asian in which every person can first

attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and second, be recognized by

others for what they are. In this episode, we hear from someone who worked to achieve both of those

aims. Juan Rodriguez has told this story at a Moth main stage. In 2015, with a theme of the night,

was don't look back, storage from the teenage years. Here's Juan, live at the Moth.

Seating outside this house in rural La Ruedo, Mexico, I was feeling tired, I was sweaty,

but most of anything I was really hungry. I mean, I've been on the bus for 18 hours,

but I was there. I was excited. If he blocks down is the USA, the land of plenty, the land of

dreams that I hear so much about. So, my dad came out of the house, still talking to this lady.

I didn't know what they were talking about. I was only 15 years old. My dad comes to me and says,

we have a deal. She's going to bring you across the border for $50. I said, great, let's do it.

That's what we hear for. So, he said, give me more instructions. He said, just get on the truck and

don't say anything. So, I did get on the latest truck. Sit down. We'd run off to the bridge.

30 minutes later, I'd reconnect with my family and I had my first hamburger McDonald's.

...