Ronan David Cox

I received my Morrison Visa in 1994. At the time, I was living in Ireland, and I still remember the feeling when my green card approval and passport stamp came through, it felt like the start of something completely new. I settled in Manhattan, New York City.

I was a student then, having completed a Bachelor of Commerce at UCD and a Diploma in Legal Studies at DIT as postgraduate study. I had failed the Blackhall Place entrance exams and was feeling pretty lost about what to do next. I didn’t feel fulfilled, and the options in front of me, basic banking jobs, didn’t inspire me. When I received my Morrison Visa in the lottery, I realised it was my ‘golden ticket’, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a real change and create a future for myself.

“I’ll never forget that moment flying into JFK. Looking out of the plane window, I was struck by the endless motorways below. Everything about New York City amazed me”

how fast-paced life was, how much opportunity there was, and the fact that the harder you worked, the more you could achieve. People were incredibly welcoming and kind, and there was an overwhelming sense of choice, in goods, services, and experiences.

One of my first big challenges was finding a place to live on my own. I was determined to be independent. I saved up, put down six months’ rent as a deposit, and made sure I never missed a payment. It was a real turning point for me, building my own life from the ground up.

“Moving to the U.S. allowed me to find myself, spiritually, personally, and professionally. I’m most proud of passing my New York Stock Exchange stockbroker exams, earning professional certifications through Yale, and ultimately building my own business.”

The Morrison Visa means the world to me. It gave me a chance to become the person I am today,  a chance I simply didn’t have back in Ireland. I believe its legacy is that it gave people a new start and, in return, those people helped make America a better, stronger place.