Diana Zuniga
English 101
Mrs. Ragsdell
Definition Essay
The “American
Dream”
The
“American Dream” is something we hear about while in our elementary history
classes. We have all heard of it but, do we know what it is? Is the “American
Dream” some unattainable thought of someone’s misplaced perception of reality?
Or is the legendary “American Dream” just a matter of a few steps away from all
of us? This dream we know of is not an illusion but a reality, all we must do
is work for it.
Generation
after generation, individuals and families have come to this land we call
America in high hopes of them becoming a successful life. They come in high
hopes of finding a job to support their family back home and in creating a new
family here. These generations do not stop here but will only continue for the
times to come. The “American Dream” is not something they simply hope to attain
one day but are willing to work for it. By whatever means necessary they are
willing to work for their dream.
We
all hope to live the “American Dream”; we all want the fancy car with the big
house and the beautiful family but are we willing to work for it? When that
question is upon us we are quick to answer yes but not all of us pursue our
dreams. The few who do pursue their dreams and education sometimes do obtain
the dream. The others who do not are the individuals who stay at home talking
about the “could of’s” and the “should of’s” to their children and their
grandchildren.
This
“American Dream” is different to each of us and this is due to the fact that
each person is different. We each yearn for the things that we hope will in return
make us happy. To each of us the details of the “American Dream” will differ
but we all know that it will rarely come to us. Whatever that dream is to us,
we have to take different paths and go through struggles to obtain such dream.
Our journey is not going to be easy but it is something we must to.
In
President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on Friday, January 20, 1961 he
said, “Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your
country.” President Kennedy knew success will not be given to just any person
but is something one must work for. The “American Dream” is not an illusion; it
is something we all can obtain.
