Dreams of an Immigrant, authored by Elizabeth Salomoni Steger, is an inspirational book about the author’s journey to reach her objectives despite life’s challenges. The author takes the reader on a passage to fulfilling a dream. If a person believes and works hard toward a goal, anything in life is achievable. Today, Elizabeth is renowned for her expertise to forecast orange crops and harvest optimization for orange growers, as well as being the current CEO of Citrus Consulting International.

As a young girl growing up in Asuncion, Paraguay, Elizabeth dreams of obtaining a degree at an American University. Given modest roots, the author sets her sights on winning a rotary scholarship because she feels doors to financial independence will open. Her determination pays off; Elizabeth attends Purdue University on a full scholarship and excels academically. Strength of mind is evident in the book, as the primary character learns a new language, experiences American customs and becomes acclimated to living in the United States.

The author’s interaction with her family, as evidenced by her angst to return to her home country after graduating from Purdue, demonstrates the love and support of a close family. While Elizabeth longs to help her native homeland and be with her family, she realizes that the prospect for prosperous employment is outside of Paraguay. The book takes a new twist, with her American husband in hand; the reader experiences the pros and cons of life’s occurrences as a mother, wife, employee in the corporate world and incidents in Elizabeth’s life which have made the author the person she is today.

The book is organized into chapters that dictate critical points in the author’s life. One pivotal moment is when the author’s daughter asks her mother if she is really happy, which becomes the catalyst for Elizabeth starting her own business and redefining her sense of happiness. As the reader witnesses in the book, a person is not defined by a job but by who they are as a person and their relationship with God. Born and raised Catholic, Elizabeth later in life reconnects with her spirituality and grows as a person. Personal anecdotes are built in to help the reader understand the subject matter, such as the chapter “Orange Juice: A Lesson from the Expert” (which, by the way, made me appreciate my consumption of orange juice a lot more).

What makes this book unique? The author’s fervor for inspiring people is exposed through her positive attitude inside the shoes of woman who wants it all - a loving husband, supportive family, career success, and to be a fantastic role model to her daughter. The author’s authenticity connects the reader with the book’s content and the author’s feelings. Steger’s book heightens awareness of quality of life issues: poverty in Paraguay, conditions when hurricanes strike, work conditions of immigrant workers picking oranges, business owners who have income fluctuations that impact financial stability, and the work/life balance of a mother who longs to take care of her family while achieving financial independence. Dreams of an Immigrant is a worthy read.