Introduktion
Phrases like "The American Dream" and "America is the land of opportunity" have permeated our discourse, serving as common descriptors of the American way of life.

Many individuals define the United States of America as a place where opportunities abound, a concept that has lured people to strive for better socioeconomic status through hard work and education, with the hope of achieving significant prosperity.

Utdrag
The narrative of Rick Goff takes center stage in this text, serving as a poignant and personal counterpoint to challenge the idealized image of the USA.

Nicholas Kristof portrays Rick Goff as an individual of unwavering diligence and profound empathy, a man deeply committed to the well-being of others.

Throughout the text, Kristof underscores the fact that Rick faced a dearth of opportunities in his life, primarily stemming from the untimely loss of his mother during his formative years and the abandonment of his family by his father.

Unlike some more privileged individuals, Rick Goff did not have the same avenues for advancement. In this context, Nicholas Kristof utilizes Rick Goff as a representative figure, emblematic of the importance of social mobility in contemporary society.

Rick's story serves as a metaphorical lens through which the text explores the stark disparities in prosperity and upward mobility that individuals encounter while navigating the complex societal landscape.

Furthermore, Kristof strategically employs Rick Goff's life journey to evoke a sense of pathos among readers, drawing upon the profound challenges and emotional tribulations that have defined Rick's existence, thereby adding a significant layer of emotional resonance to the text's narrative.

“Rick has a terrific mind, but as a boy he had an undiagnosed attention disorder and teachers wrote him off.” (page 1, line 70 – 71) Nicholas Kristof puts all appeal forms to use.