Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is featuring US citizens explaining what the American dream means to them in 2026 — including Joelle Simpson, the Chief of Emergency Medicine at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC.
I immigrated here from Trinidad in about 1991. There were four of us — my mom, my dad, and my younger brother — that moved here with a couple of suitcases. My parents knew that there were limited options in the Caribbean.
We had a cherry tree outside of our house, and I remember the day we were going to the airport … I held onto that tree because cherries were my favorite things, and saying, “No, I don’t want to go.” I was quite upset because I was 13. I was leaving all of my close friends.
I went from an all-girls’ convent in Trinidad to a New York City public high school in Staten Island … Port Richmond High School. How drastic that change was!
I was fortunate though, because there was a program called Gateway to Higher Education that emphasized math and science and introduced high-school students to research and summer courses.
I had a guidance counselor named Ms. Joan Vaccaro. It almost brings tears to my eyes. I remember being in her office on those days that I was conscious of my accent or how different I was, or even just shy that I’d gotten an A and I was hiding that because I wanted to be cool.
I learned about the Milken Scholars program through Ms. Vaccaro. She said, “I think you’d be awesome for this program.”
I went to undergrad at Harvard, and I did my medical school degree and my masters in public health at George Washington University.
The American dream. No matter where you are in the world, that phrase is understood — that there are resources that you can tap into. There are people who can support you, if you are able to demonstrate your gifts and … you’re dedicated and have the commitment.
There are so many stories of people who’ve come from nothing to become so great, which is not necessarily [the case] in a lot of other countries. The culture here is such that it feels like you can be one of those people too.
The American Dream Video Project showcases real stories that illuminate pathways to opportunity. Featured at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), this series is part of the Center’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. MCAAD is Washington, DC’s newest cultural institution, offering interactive exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream. For more information, visit mcaad.org.