American Dream

American Dream

Everyone has his or her own American dream. In fact, the United States was founded by ambitious people who dreamt for a better life. The tradition has continued, and with each generation, the dream grows. What was once a desire for simple equality, freedom, and refuge has evolved to become much, much more. Now, the American dream is personalized. Whether that dream is to become a lawyer or doctor, own a successful small business, provide a better life for their children, or anything in between, each person’s individual dream is just that- individual. This individuality means that each person must achieve each dream in different ways. Some will need higher learning. Others will require determination and a strong work ethic. Some are even counting on pure luck. My own American dream includes going to college, having an office job, and eventually living in a Victorian-style home with my future family and my dogs. However, unsurprisingly enough with the millions of people living in this nation, not everyone else’s goals are the same as mine! While education is vital to achieving my own dreams, who is to say that a man must obtain a master’s degree if his highest life ambition is to manage a 7-11? Americans’ ideas of success vary greatly, and while education is a key element in achieving the American dream, individual education can be defined any number of ways, and even the highest levels of schooling would be nothing without a great deal of determination and a little bit of luck.
Success is relative. Because the American dream is tied so closely with achieving more than otherwise thought possible, “more” could mean any number of levels of success. Whether it be accomplishing more than one could in the country from which he emigrated, surpassing the success of one’s parents, or conquering social barriers, every American strives for more. The earliest Americans, the pilgrims, celebrated the first Thanksgiving because they had succeeded in ways beyond...

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