Personal Narrative: Pursuing The American Dream

What is the American Dream? Is it different today than it was for our forefathers? Is the Dream based on collecting as many possessions as we can, or how we want to live? Is it setting goals that we want to achieve in our lifetime and simply being content in whatever we do? My answer is yes. It is making an effort to meet or exceed our goals, whether we want to “shoot for the moon” and strive for wealth, or be content with the basic needs. Most of us want the simplest necessities - shelter, companionship, and a few luxuries to make us comfortable. The American Dream, enduring through time and eras, encourages us to put in place the framework of motivation for the status and achievements we want to attain for ourselves throughout our lives

The American dream is something that everyone should believe in, I know I do. Throughout my whole entire life I have wanted to be successful. I believe in myself and know that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. The American dream says that everyone should be treated equal. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Everyone is judged for their height, weight, race, age, likes, dislikes, etc. In the world today you must conform to the social norm to be considered “cool.” Part of me wants to feel that way and the other part of me just wants to be original and do whatever I want. When I was a little girl I used to perform in musical theater. I loved it so much it made me the happiest I have probably ever been in my entire life. Did everybody

I was born and raised in Cuba. My sister and I were raised by a single mother. Since my mother does not have a high education level, I am the first person in my family with the opportunity of obtaining a bachelor degree and enter medical school. Consequently, she could only offer restricted support for my educational development. However, she always strived to support our family. Nevertheless, I began to work to provide for them as soon as I finished high school. Therefore, I could not attend to the university at that time. Soon after, I got married and had my first child. Then, I moved to the United States of America with my husband and child due to economic reasons and to pursue the American Dream at the age of 26. Then, I got pregnant with

America’s gift to my generation is freedom. Freedom is the right to do what one wants, lives where he/she wants, eat what they want, and choose the religion in which he or she believes in without ignoring or harming other people’s rights. Freedom is an important gift. Freedom allows schools, buildings, and public places to have many types of people; gays, lesbians, Asians, African Americans, girls, and boys. Back when Martin Luther King Jr was alive, their schools were segregated; meaning Caucasian people couldn’t go to school with African Americans. Some of my best friends are not the same race or religion as me. Well I, had the gift of freedom to choose my friends. I have one best friend since the second grade who isn’t the same race or religion

For many immigrants they come to America for one purpose, achieving the “American Dream.” The American Dream’s definition varies from person to person, the definition in the dictionary states, “a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful”. Unfortunately, not everybody achieves their goals as many are stuck working low wage jobs, or in poverty despite working harder than other Americans. On the other hand, people who immigrated here are successful, owning a house, having a well-paying job, and being able to send money to their families. Overall, achieving American Dream of being wealthy and successful is a combination of luck, connections, and hardwork. For my assignment, I interviewed my neighbor, asking her about her experience in America.

It was April 3, 2015. While the wind danced around picking few leaves here and there along with itself, my spirit on the other hand, marked with unease and nervousness stood in stark contrast. It was time to board the airplane for United States of America; it was time to leave India, my birthplace as well as my home for 14 years. With hopes of achieving the American Dream, my family and I would board the airplane, oblivious to the opportunities as well as hardships and sacrifices which would follow. Although the journey might seem as a physical one - of around 15 hours, it was a moral journey of understanding new cultures, new ideas, new struggles.Nevertheless, it was a journey to understand the true beauty of the world.

The American dream can be viewed in a lot of ways to different people. I view it as a variety of things. When I imagine the American dream I think of having so much money I do not have to imagine twice about buying anything, I could have all the cars I ever wanted. Another thing I imagine is having all the Siberian Huskies I want so I can have a big sled dog team. Then I can save the gas in my cars so I can make less stops at the gas station. The last thing I think about is being able to skydive anytime I want to. However, there are also people who just want to have a proficient education and be able to have a family. The American dream is having an amazing education, having a lot of money and having a exceptional family.

Growing up on the island of Jamaica, it was never my aspiration to move to the U.S. Leaving my country was one of the most depressing experiences I have ever encountered. At least, -that’s what I thought at the time. I was saddened that I was no longer able to see the people I valued most every day. I was eager for change but at the same time heartbroken because my life wouldn’t be the same in this new world. I felt as if I was unprepared to accept new challenges and live the “American Dream”.

“Trust me. You can do it,” my coach shouted when I fell down from my horse. I was at camp for the summer and wanted to learn to ride but I could not manage to control the horse. After several falls, I had all but given up and was afraid to mount the horse again. But my coach just kept pushing me. By the end of the summer and after a lot of practice and setbacks, I not only got over my fear of riding but also learned to control the horse and have a smooth, consistent ride. I often thought about my experience with the horse that summer when I was sitting for USMLE exams. My USMLE Step 1 and 2 exams were not as good as I hoped and it began a distressing time of self-doubt. I was forced to think hard about my childhood dream to pursue medicine

Being born in 1997, I am one of the first of this generation to reach adulthood. As the last of the millennials finish graduating college, Generation Z, also known as generation or iGen, are rapidly growing up. Not much is known about this generation, but we do know a few things and can predict the rest. As Millennials are making headline as America’s worst generation, iGen is working behind the scenes to change America for the better.

Both my mother and father are motivational forces that have driven me to achieve all that I can. My father, who never finished high school, traveled thousands of miles with my mother away from their rural villages in India to come to America, the fabled land of opportunity. This kind of upbringing has motivated me to make the best of the monetary situation that my parents never had.

The across Atlantic, in the northern part of Ethiopia, I was born in a small rural village called Wejo, which is a very small population, with strong social fabric: strict traditional bond, but I still had the memory when the winter is comes. Suddenly the savanna land turn to a tropical garden, the attic change to the rain forest, the river flooded into gorge, the big mountain at back of the house covered with foggy weather, the cattle grazing in the field, the farm giving its reward and everyone in the village delight because of the rain that the winter brings. For me when winter comes one thing always remember is my father graceful eyes. Winter always

Typically, the American Dream is associated with having a family, a large amount of money and a house in the suburbs. Or something to that variation. Unfortunately, the American Dream is becoming increasingly materialistic. It seems that people are more interested in possessing the latest iPhone or designer handbags. However, this is not the case for myself. As a young woman, my American Dream has 3 ideals: freedom, opportunities, and happiness. Each of these ideals coincide and work together to create the ultimate goal; success.

When I close my eyes and envision the United States, I see barbeques and baseball games. Children running around in big, green playgrounds and coming home to white picket fences and well kept flowerbeds. As sunny and aesthetically pleasing as this image of our country is, I find it oddly discomforting. Here I am, standing on the precipice on adulthood, about to inherit the very future of this country, and I still see this picture of stereotypical 1950's idealism. And while the greatest generation may retain their title, the world is moving at a faster pace than the sleepy hometowns that were once the American Dream. My vision involves us stepping up to the plate and reaffirming our position as the land of opportunity.

Standing in front of the perfect ‘American Dream' house with a white picket fence decorated for Christmas. Light up snowmen and reindeer, lights on the edges of the house. A nativity set in the corner of the yard almost forgotten about but still there. "Man, Ana. I can feel the evil pagan vibes just rolling off this place." Liz laughs as she walks up the front steps. Knocking on the doors, they are meet by a middle- aged woman in a Christmas sweater. The smell of cookies came from inside of the house, Liz looked at Ana real quick before she continued, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson the meadowsweet maker?" Liz asks with a giant grin. "Why yes, I am!" Mrs. Johnson replies. "Wow, awesome. We were admiring your wreaths the other day at the Watson's