What is my Dream?

What is my definition or version of the American Dream? It's simple; when I think of America or the idea of an "American Dream", I think of opportunity. I truly believe that this is one of the few countries where background, race, or sex has no bearing on what one can do in their life. Only in America can someone from a poor or lower class background work and fight to become successful and proud. As our Founding Fathers once said,  "All people are created equal" and this is the motto behind the "American Dream".

My father grew up in a the typical middle class suburban neighborhood. Though he grew up in a good environment he always struggled in school and was constantly a behavioral problem. After barely graduating high school and college, my dad had no idea what he was going to do with his life. Years went by and he worked many different jobs, none giving him a sense of self fulfillment or satisfaction. Finally, after struggling for many years and with two kids at home, he opened his own business and has since seen amazing success, both financially and personally. Only in America could a C and D student slowly work and strive and eventually become immensely successful. I believe my dad has shown that America truly is the land of opportunity and that the "Dream" is still alive and well. 

Though my father is the most personal example of the "American Dream" i have, there have been millions of others effected by this ideal. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of immigrants came to this land in pursuit of this "Dream". They saw this as a land of opportunity and a place where even the lowest person on the social spectrum could make something of themselves. America has constantly shown that if you are willing to put in the work and make sacrifices, that you can become successful; both financially and personally. 

Over the past few years we as Americans have seen this "Dream" come under much scrutiny. Some skeptics say that the "American Dream" is dead and that it now is a figment of our own imaginations. I would counter these arguments by saying that if the American Dream is dead, then why do millions of people continue to come to this country; both legally and illegally. Those living in other countries still see this vision and this idea of opportunity and success. Immigrants see America as a fresh start and a place to find a sense of happiness and well being. 

Overall, I believe that ever since the founding of this great nation there has always been what literary minds refer to as the "American Dream". The "Dream" is opportunity, it is success, it is happiness, and it is pride. To some the "Dream" is material wealth, to others it is personal well being, and to some it is just a dream. Though the United States has constantly changed throughout the past 250 years, it has always been a land of an opportunity and a place of fresh starts. Whenever I think of doubting the existence of an American Dream, I look at people like my dad and others who have seized the opportunity of this land and taken the "Dream" and turned it into reality.