What is Your American Dream?

Every citizen in the United States of America is different. We all have distinct beliefs, morals, and life experiences that make us unique individuals. Because of that, we have our own goals and dreams in life. We may want to be a firefighter, raise cattle, have fifteen kids, or even be in the circus! And as Americans we have the right and the power to do so because of the American Dream. You may be wondering what this “American Dream” is, where it came from, and even the obstacles that get in the way. I was also wondering about the same things, so I turned to my father and a close family friend for some answers.

My father is one of the most intellectual people I know. He thinks everything through four times before doing it. He is an engineer and has the brain of a scientist. So, I wasn’t very surprised that when I went to him asking about the American Dream, I got a very complex answer. He explained to me that he believes that the American Dream is to be able to make a choice of religion, a family, a political opinion, and the chance to pursue a successful career. He believes that the dream comes from the founding principles of the country and the diversity of our society. He continued on to say that our country is very successful and we have a high standard of living, which is proof that the American Dream is realistic to hold onto. My father has definitely attained the American Dream because he has freedom and he is financially stable. To me that statement shows how large scale his definition of the dream is, and that it is more about your rights and stability than about material goods. This way of thinking is somewhat more mature and eloquent than how my family friend, Carrie, interprets the dream.

My family has known Carrie for a very long time, because we have lake homes close to each other. She is a 34 year old hair dresser; she has a husband, and is the mother of two small children. This may be some of the reason why her explanation of the American Dream was much different than the one of my fathers. She believes that it is all about being happy, having freedom, having a family, and being thankful for the things you have. She explained that our society has a high standard for the American Dream. Because of that, people have lost the idea of being grateful for simplistic things, like having clean water and shoes on their feet. She says that young kids today have a dream based more on status, and it is not just about being happy because kids always want more. Carrie believes that the obstacles in the American Dream are the struggles we face in our personal lives, and she jokingly suggested that the lack of money is also a problem. Like my father, Carrie has attained the American Dream, but not in the same way. She has achieved it because she has a successful business, is happily married with children, and has no complaints about her life.