05/28/2026
It was a high school math class group assignment where I first noticed how independent my classmates were. That was my first impression of the American dream and the individualism associated with United States culture during my first year living here.
Prior to that class, I saw individualism positively, as a way of not getting into other people's business. Now, I see it to be a culture that was pushed by the capitalist system, encouraging selfishness,isolation and a transactional society that separates individuals from communities.
When I moved to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2019, I found myself lost. I expected more freedom of choice with culture in America from watching Hollywood movies and friends' experiences in the U.S., specifically regarding hospitality culture compared to the Middle East. I was never expecting it to be this much of a culture shock.
One-third of Americans feel lonely on a weekly basis, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Individualism isolates our society, as freedom and self-reliance have been pushed to the point where people develop self-serving mindsets. Individualism damages community organizing, leaving people less connected compared to past generations. Most of it comes from distractions of social media or a capitalist system that keeps people busy with daily life responsibilities. Their priority becomes surviving instead of working towards collective values, becoming less supportive of their communities as a result.
đź”— Read the full story at link in bio.
✍️: Amin Faramarz (.amin01.____)
📸: Photo courtesy of Yerba Buena High School & Afghan American Community Organization
