My bi-cultural experience began when my family immigrated to the United States from India. Nine years later I shared my struggle of being caught between two cultures with my eleventh-grade English class. We had been discussing an essay, "Does America Still Exist?" by Richard Rodriguez who believes that cultural assimilation exists in the United States. It saddens me that this process occurs without any celebration, as Rodriguez points out. Not celebrating assimilation creates the impression that America is allowing immigration solely because the economy needs it. While economic factors are the driving force behind any society, it must be acknowledged and celebrated that cultural diversity augments economic growth.