My American Dream

There is an ancient African adage that states “If you wish to move mountains tomorrow, you must start by lifting stones today”. As a first generation immigrant to the United States and reminiscent of countless other immigrants who have come before me, moving to a new country literally means starting your life all over again from scratch, but symbolically it signifies a rebirth of oneself and a chance to metamorphose into whatever new creature you aspire to be. Some of the challenges I faced included culture shock, language barriers, financial barriers, but the utmost significant one was the education barrier. I quickly realized that if I could bridge the education gap I would be able to overcome all the other barriers. For myself, having an education epitomized my assimilation into my new life by enabling me to chase my dreams and realize my unique American dream.

There is an old African adage that states “If you wish to move mountains tomorrow, you must start by lifting stones today”. I am a first generation immigrant to the United States and like many other immigrants who have come before me, moving to a new country literally means starting your life all over again from scratch but symbolically it signifies a rebirth of oneself and a chance to metamorphose into whatever new creature you aspire to be. Some of the challenges I faced included culture shock, language barriers, financial barriers but the most significant one was the education barrier. I quickly realized that if I could bridge the education gap I would be able to overcome all the other barriers. For me having an education epitomized my assimilation into my new life by enabling me to chase my dreams and realize my unique American dream.

From the early stages of American literature the dream of success has always been around, even at the very beginning. It has gone on the journey of merely surviving in small amounts of the literature from the native people to thriving in a growing society and being in everything. The dream to myself is becoming wealthy and being successful in everything I do. Today I believe that the dream has become different for everyone, every person has a different dream, a different way they want their life to go.

Throughout life everybody has heard the line “Follow your dreams!” This simple sentence has inspired many. This idea of creating a dream and chasing it has inspired the American Dream. The American Dream is different for everybody. It could be getting married, creating a business, or being a hero. It turns out the American Dream is not for everybody. There is always something standing in the way of the American Dream. Race, social status, and the individual are standing in the way between the person and the American Dream.

There isn’t much to tell about myself; I am just a simple girl from Africa trying to live the “American dream.” I work very hard for what I have, and I do not surrender easily. In addition, I am a very caring person, which can be one of my best qualities but also one of my worst. For instance, when I make promises to people or give them my word, I will follow through to what I promised. I will go above and beyond to make sure I do what I said and committed myself to do.

Everyday thousands of people, illegally and legally, come to America seeking a new and better life and having the choice and freedom to start over. Through hard work and dedication, people believe America will provide them with the ability to pursue in their “American Dream” so they can be successful and content with their lives. In my “American Dream” I am a doctor who’s saving lives so people have the chance and ability to continue pursuing in their “American Dream.” My friends, family, and teachers push me to attain excellent grades, go to a college that’s renowned and well-known, and become a doctor, which in my father and mother’s opinion is a highly respected career. My parents believe that being a doctor you are highly respected because

Friedrich Nietzche, a German philosopher quoted, “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.” The most meaningful event in my life was when my twin daughters came into life. I am an immigrant that moved to this beautiful country when I was only thirteen years old teenager. Only one more family out of many that decide to come to this country hoping for better future and try to achieve the American Dream.

I’ve had challenges in ranges from peas to elephants throughout my lifetime, but the biggest challenge I’ve faced Thus far has been navigating and blending cultures. From Burmese kids who’ve spent years in refugee camps to Congolese kids who’ve fled civil wars, to the American homeboys who wear baseball caps backwards, to me a girl from the congo who lives with parents that view the world in strict and narrow terms,my world is made up people from all over the world with one objective in mind- realizing their American Dream, freedom of thought, speech and opportunity to be who they are without fear. Every day is a new adventure with endless possibilities for those who are open and brave. I’m open and I’m brave, but I secretly live in a world

The difference in economic levels between the lower income and the higher income has increased over the years. Therefore, the American Dream is becoming more unobtainable as the inequality increases. Poor income high school students with high entrance exam scores are opting for places such as community colleges instead of higher ranking schools. Since well-off people are marrying people just as well-off, they have the resources to support their kids with time and money. Those whom were raised in the upper class are likely to stay there as they have more support from their parent along with money to invest in their future. Low-income parents tend to be less involved with their children’s education, as they are trying to pay the bills. Some of

The classic “American Dream” can be envisioned as a white picket fence, crisp lawn, and two young children playing about in front of a lightly hued colonial style home. Once the ideal of ultimate success within the United States, this life goal is now just an image on a page of a 1960’s chapter within a United States history textbook. Now, America’s strong-willed and influential Millennials have thoroughly and unapologetically redefined the “American Dream”.

Growing up in a family full of healthcare providers, I told myself growing up that I would stir away from such profession. As a child, I have always wanted to be a teacher “when I grew up”. At a young age, my family and I migrated from the islands of the Philippines to the United States of America. When we got here, my big family lived in a small apartment with my grandparents. Life has changed from living a very comfortable lifestyle to my parents having to work hours on end to chase the American dream. For all of my life, I have never felt so separated from my parents. However, I understood that they were working hard for the family. Luckily, I had very caring and loving grandparents who took on the role of our guardians and caregivers.

In 2004, my family emigrated to America from Pakistan. Our lives in Pakistan were better than most. We lived in a huge condo and my father owned a plant nursery which earned him enough money to support us. However, my parents wanted their kids to have a better future and become something great one day. This wasn’t really possible in Pakistan; the education system wasn’t great and it wasn’t safe either. Because of this, we emigrated to America so my siblings and I could achieve the American dream through proper education. Little did I know that my life would drastically change.

Dreams themselves come in all shapes, sizes, and depths. They can range from simple primal desires to complex demands for morality and justice. In every corner in our behemoth of a nation, dreams can be found. Thanks to you, many can safely express their viewpoints on such ideas without fear of being told they're speaking out of place. The story of your American Dream lives on in today's youth as an inspiring tale of overcoming the injustices of the world we live in. My dream resembles yours in this way.

As someone who was born at the tail-end of the millennial period, 1997, I can definitely say that I am experiencing this new American Dream for myself. Owning a home is definitely a part of the American Dream that has remained intact for as long as the country has been standing. However, for a millennial there is a new and added depth to the Dream. Millennials have been accused of many things, killing the diamond industry, killing the department store industry, and for being unwilling to enter the housing market. While the dream of owning a home is indeed alive and well among millennials, it is something that feels far beyond reach for the majority of us.

In the 1930’s, the American Dream became more prominent them ever. Following the stock market crash, the country was thrust into the Great Depression where the people were filled with sorrow and to get them through the time, the American Dream was born. For some the fantasy was to own a little home, a car and have a family. But for the characters in Of Mice and Men, the characters version of the American Dream was to own a little plot of land and own some rabbits. In addition, Steinbeck uses Lennie, George and Candy’s visions to teach the reader that dreams are thought up almost effortlessly, but much more difficult to obtain.