Above: Rudy, 18 years old in 1995 with his grandfather, Sleiman, in Lebanon. Below: Rudy in South Lebanon, by the Israeli border. Left: Today, Rudy and his wife and children.

An American Dream

Posted September 3, 2010

RUDOLPH “RUDY” HAJJ knows something about the American Dream that many of us, perhaps even most of us, don’t realize—and he’s not even an American. Yet.

As a child, Rudy faced the possibility of death every day. He grew up in the town of Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon, about 20 minutes north of Beirut. He was born in 1979, during a civil war that ravaged his country until 1990.

“All that time,” he says, “we were living under bombs and rockets and bullets flying everywhere.”

His father, an accountant, and his mother, an English teacher, scrambled to support the family, often leaving Rudy in charge of his younger sisters and cousins.

In 1997, he traveled to Paris for World Youth Day with Pope John Paul II. Compared to Lebanon, France seemed an Eden. “That’s when it started brewing in me, ‘Okay, there is a better place out there,’” he says.

In 2000, Rudy again traveled, this time to Rome for the pope’s Great Jubilee. He met eager young people from all over the world who sparkled with exciting plans and prospects. He, on the other hand, was about to graduate from college with a degree in finance and no hope of landing a job in his field in Lebanon.

He applied for immigration to Italy, Canada, and the United States. The U.S paperwork came back first, so that’s the place he picked. “I got my visa on a Wednesday,” he says. “I left Lebanon on Friday. I was gone.”

Gone, in fact, to Birmingham, Alabama, where he knew people who helped him get started in his new country. As soon as his work papers came through, he got a job as a waiter. Then he added a job as a teller for Regions Bank. Then he entered the MBA program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The young man who couldn’t find work back home now had two full-time jobs and a full-time college schedule. Opportunities, he feels, are not to be wasted. They may not hang around waiting for you to pluck them at your leisure.

“People take things for granted here,” Rudy says. “I just wish people could see how life is in other countries, and then they could appreciate what they have here.”

He completed his studies and earned his master of business administration degree. Meanwhile, at Regions, he advanced rapidly until he achieved what he calls his “dream job” as an underwriter for business loans where he digs into a business’s numbers, assessing whether a proposed loan makes sense. As a self-confessed numbers nerd, he loves it.

Rudy is also proud of his personal life. He is married, with a 3½-year-old stepson and a 1-year-old daughter.

He did missionary work in Lebanon from 1994 to 2003 and is looking for an opportunity to help others.

“What I like to do, actually, is take care of kids,” he says. “Kids are the future, and you have to make sure you guide them the right way.”

His immediate next step is to become a citizen of the United States. He has sent his application. If he’s lucky, by the beginning of next year, he will be an American citizen.

His ultimate goal? “Honestly, I don’t know,” he says. “I just want to keep going. I don’t have one place where I want to be. I want to keep moving up as much as possible.”

And that’s what Rudolph Hajj, child of Lebanon and soon-to-be proud citizen of the United States, can teach many of us who came by our American citizenship as a birthright: The American Dream is not a destination. It’s not a goal that you can ever achieve. Instead, it’s a journey that never ends—a way of living your life.

Rudy says he can’t wait until he can, “pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands.”

“All I can say is that this is a great country. Look at me,” says Rudy. “I came here with nothing. I really didn’t have anything but clothes when I came here and less than $500 in my pocket. Right now, I have a house, I have a car, I have a family—just name it.

“This is a place for anybody who works hard to advance. And the sky’s the limit.”

RUDY HAJJ is a Custom Loan Underwriter for Regions in Birmingham, Alabama.

comments (18)

What a testimony to the United States and to those who are willing to work for their place in our society. Bravo to Rudy. Yes we American citizens by birth do tend to take many things for granted and some expect to be handed the "American Dream" by birthright. Education and hard work is the real American way. Thank you Rudy for picking the USA and your contribution to our country.

Janet Huddleston

Rudy is truly an exceptional individual, who should be viewed as an example for us all. I'm proud to work along-side him and to call him a friend.

Jeff Makofski

Rudy is by far one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life and I am so glad I've the chance to work with him. Thanks for sharing your amazing story!

lenzy

Thank you for sharing your life story with us. It is truly inspiring. You have a beautiful family Papa Hajj!

Emily Richerson

ambitious people can do miracles if they get the opportunities people in usa have and, as rudy says, take for granted. you make us all proud, rudy. keep it up. God bless you and your wonderful family. i love you. usa is a land of opportunities, and i'm sure you'll make a perfect citizen with your integrity and ambition.

samira hajj

rudy this is great!! wish u the best really!! we miss u all a lot .. take care of yourself and your family ... hope to see u soon xoxo

richy

It's always an eye-watering moment when you get to learn about someone who you knew during your childhood actually reaching a promising and comforting destination in his life - to realize the joy of living. I know for a fact that such stories, especially of good worthy people we know, elevates our hope for a better world for the future generations. It is a shame that we do not get the adequate support from our home country, consequently the frustration levels rise and we seek appreciation elsewhere. Patriotism is essential, yet life itself is Holy. For those of us who have tasted the sweetness of being treated as humans, with basic rights, understand the value of transcending these rights to the next generation at any cost. No one would like to be away from family and friends, yet there's a sacrifice in every decision we make. Rudy, good luck in your citizenship; you deserve the best ! God bless you & yours!

Anthony Kerbage

God bless you Rudy.

Miled Issa

What a great story! It is true how we do take things for granted in our country. To come from nothing and advance to where Mr. Hajj is today is totally a blessing.

allicia

This is a beautiful story.... It lets you know that anything can be done but only if you want it...

Tiffany McBride

This is most inspiring and leaves you with a more profound pride in the United States. I'm so glad that we have people with such courage and such a brilliant work ethic working to make Regions a better place as well.

Joy

Rudy, you understand our heritage better than we seem to. The US does take alot of things for granted, but we have no guarantee that our way of life will continue forever. You seem to look through different eyes at how you and your family are blessed. It's time we start to be thankful for the opportunities that we have been given. The US is still not a level playing field for everyone, but you have shown what can be done when you apply yourself and strive for the best in life. There is nothing that can stop you, Rudy.

Judy Bates

Rudy is the man... great co-worker and friend. Thank you, Lebanon.

Vance Waldron

What Rudy says is true! I know this for a fact because my father was an immigrant from Italy. He came to America in 1921. He was 9 years old. All of my grandparents were from Italy too. My mother was born in Illinois, near chicago. Whenever I get down in the dumps about,not only the economy, but also politics in general, I can remember some of the stories I heard from my parents. We are Blessed beyond belief and we should ALWAYS keep that in mind and give thanks everyday! There is more opportunity in this country than in any other place in the world. We also have FREEDOM to do wonderful things, like write books, state our opinions, tell our government what we like and what we do not like. We can tell our President when we think he is wrong. These things are unheard of in many countries. We can start businesses and We can succeed! ONLY IN AMERICA!!! I thank God and my parents who came here with nothing but what they had on their backs and their courage for coming here! They did not know the language; they had no money; and they had no place to live, BUT they made a better life for themselves and their families and friends. God bless America! Let's keep her Free! Good for you, Rudy! Love to you and your family!

mary stacy

This is truly a great testimony and many people who think starting from nothing can put you in first place. Rudy, keep on striving for more and more. This can inspire many people that have closed minds on life. You have a beautiful family. May God continue to bless you.

Twynette Thomas

Because you are living the DREAM! Keep it up

Michael L Garrard

It's stories like these that remind me that our country really is "The Land of Opportunity." It's wonderful that people still see the United States in this way. I believe that a lot of citizens take it granted and forget how wonderful this country really is.

Brittany

What a great story!! Rudy is a great person and I am glad to work with him.

Rhonda