At American University, a group of graduate students are working with the Coalition of the National Museum of the American People (NMAP) to start a museum that would celebrate America’s diversity.

The National Museum of American People will educate citizens on the bridge that connects the past and the present. For more information on this museum, and how your story can one day be told among the rest, visit www.nmap2015.com

My name is Helen. Six years ago when I came to the United States from China to begin college, I was introduced to the term, “The American dream.” Most Chinese people come to the United States with this idea of the American dream as their goal, but I have started to develop my own goals through my college and graduate school studies. One of the greatest things about this country is that you have the opportunity to define your own dreams. I see NMAP as a promising way to represent how the Chinese have achieved theirown American dreams throughout the generations.

My name is Namuun Balkhjav and I am Mongolian. I was born and raised in the capital city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, and I was 16 when I touched down on American soil for the very first time. I barely spoke English when I arrived and so began my long stretch of obstacles with a completely new culture and language.

Then six years ago I met my husband, who is Irish. Our relationship has helped me understand how two people from completely different backgrounds and cultures can coexist peacefully. We plan to start a family and our kids will be first generation Americans with two very rich cultures: half Irish, half Mongolian, and full American.

My name is Meng. I came to America from China to pursue a graduate education at American University six months ago. Although I have not been here long, I already see the United States as an ethnically and racially diverse country. Here, I have made friends with people whose families originate from Japan, India, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. While I believe the core culture of China is ethnic cohesion, the most attractive and amazing part of the United States is its diversity. I feel that the National Museum of American People will be a wonderful testament to the rich diversity.

(Helen Wong is an American University graduate student. She writes, “As part of a practicum course, my class is working on behalf of the Coalition for the National Museum of American People.”