The American Dream

There are many ways one can interpret the American dream. Traditionally, the concept of the American dream has been molded as a process typically occurring in the order of: working hard, buying a house, and raising a family. Immigrants have long traveled to America with the promise that if they work hard they too can achieve that American dream.

In recent decades, the importance of education has been stressed on America’s youth. With a proper education, you will not have to work a physically exhausting job like your ancestors, rather, you can pick any career path that interests you which will lead to more opportunities to acquire that dream home and support that dream family.

I think many people misinterpret what the American dream really means. The American dream is commonly misunderstood for what is simply achieving the materialistic prize; the house, wife and kids. However, the true American dream essentially is the process itself. The true American dream is having the opportunity to attain what you desire; the freedom to pursue happiness. I think the misconception about the American dream is people think it is something to achieve whereas I think it is something to be lived.

Thomas Jefferson explained the American dream in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To me, the key word to remember is “pursuit.” No one is guaranteed to be happy. Everyone must work for what they want. What makes America unique is that even through times of adversity we still progress. Though it may take time, American’s have hope that if they work hard it is possible to achieve happiness.

The civil rights movement, women’s liberation, gay and lesbian rights, these are prime examples of people, Americans, who worked hard and continue to strive for equality so that they can continue living their dream, the American dream. Understanding that in the face of adversity they have the power to change the current mentality of fellow citizens, having hope that they can change minds, working to achieve their goals, and knowing that their efforts will lead toward positive progression is living the American dream. Working for progression politically and socially to truly be free to pursue happiness, no matter what the end product is, to me, is living the American dream.

Personally, I feel like I am living the American dream. I am the first person in my family to be born in this country, the first person in my family to graduate high school and attend college. More than that, I am the first person who has had the ability to change my mind. This is all thanks to those who came before me who sought to achieve their individual American dream. My grandparents moved to this country with the dream that they could secure a home for their family. My parents encouraged me to earn an education to see their dream of their daughter become an independent woman who, unlike past generations of women, would not need to rely on the support of a man.

Because of the dreams of those who have come before me I have the opportunity to pursue happiness in any way I chose. To live the American dream, I do not have to fit the mold set for the connotation of "success" or "the American dream." I can be independent. I have the freedom to change my mind. I can do what makes me happy and I know that if there is some obstacle I have to overcome, I can overcome it. I may not end up with a house and kids but if I am happy doing whatever I am doing, I am a success and that is living the American dream.