By Nathan Nguyen

Originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal

I certainly believe that “The American Dream Is Alive and Well” (Review, Feb. 1). I was born in Vietnam in a house made of straw and mud on dirt ground. I’m the youngest of six kids, so when I immigrated to America in the early 1990s, I was young and lucky enough to get the full American education from kindergarten to completing my college degree at USC. Thankfully, I also received a scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association, an organization that helps promising students in need offset the cost of higher education.

If achieving the American dream is at least somewhat related to money, then understanding how to create, maintain and grow wealth are the timeless keys to unlock it. What makes the rich different from the broke (poor is a state of mind) is having the skills to turn income into assets that can increase in value and generate more income. I believe it is imperative that we prepare all students with skills that empower them to achieve and sustain financial independence. We must educate them on these topics while they’re in school so that they are ready for the financial responsibilities of adult life and can focus on achieving their own version of the ever-evolving American dream.

To view original Wall Street Journal article click here.