Through July 4, The Post, in partnership with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is highlighting US citizens as they reflect on what the American Dream means to them in 2026. Among them is Rosario Marin, the 41st treasurer of the United States, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003 and remains the only foreign-born treasurer in the nation’s history.
The American Dream is more than a phrase to me. It is a powerful idea — and, in my life, it has proven to be real.
I was born in Mexico City, and as a child, I believed my family was doing all right. It wasn’t until we arrived in the United States that I understood the truth: We had been very, very poor. That was why we came here — in search of better opportunities and the chance to build a different future.
From an early age, I understood that education was the key to making the most of that opportunity. I went to high school, though when graduation came, I didn’t even attend the ceremony. Later, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in marketing and international business.
At the time, I never imagined the path my life would take — or that I would one day become treasurer of the United States.
There is a line often attributed to Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes that has stayed with me: “What lies behind you and what lies ahead of you is minute in relation to what lies within you.” I have carried those words throughout my life. Whatever hardships you have faced, you are larger than them because you are still here. And whatever challenges lie ahead, you have the strength to meet them, overcome them and rise again.
That has been the story of my life.
To think that a 14-year-old immigrant girl who arrived in America unable to speak English could one day become the 41st treasurer of the United States — that, to me, is the American Dream.
If you work hard, that if you believe, no matter how difficult it may seem, you can reach unimaginable dreams. Look at me.
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.
