The American economy is again showing signs of vitality. With the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates, the hope of lower borrowing costs has sparked renewed optimism in trade, investment, and employment.

Markets are responding with resilience, businesses are regaining confidence, and households are cautiously optimistic about relief from inflation.

Yet behind the statistics, the true pulse of the nation is best felt not in the halls of power, but in the daily interactions between ordinary citizens. For a newcomer, one of the richest ways to understand America is not only through its politics and headlines but through working shoulder to shoulder with its people, in their neighborhoods and workplaces. My journey since migrating in September 2024 has been exactly that: a year-long immersion, into the everyday life of the United States.

My introduction came swiftly through politics. Soon after arrival, I was hired by Working America, a grassroots canvassing arm of the AFL-CIO, tasked with door-to-door outreach.

The mission was ambitious: convince voters in Michigan, a critical swing state, to support Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate nominee Alyssa Slotkin. The campaign invested heavily—over 400 workers were hired at competitive wages, mobilized to tilt the state blue.

Yet, despite the effort, Harris and Slotkin both lost resoundingly, while Donald Trump’s message resonated strongly with voters. That experience of knocking on doors and engaging in candid conversations with American families was invaluable. I learned firsthand that the economy outweighed all other concerns for most households. Voters were blunt, pragmatic, and deeply invested in their livelihoods.

From politics, my path shifted to commerce when I joined Home Depot, one of the largest consumer hardware chains in the world. With........

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