Countless Opportunities In America

America is built on the preconceived premise that all people have the right to work towards happiness. Americans over the years have tried to define what being an American truly means. An American can be defined as one with endless opportunities, pride in their country, and the chance for a future for oneself and their families.
Countless opportunities are available to an American. For example, Anzia Yezierska, an immigrant writes, “In the golden land of flowing opportunity I was to find my work that was denied me in the sterile village of my forefathers” (6). Yezierska emphasizes the promise of America that was not given to her in her own prosaic country. Yezierska wrote of a personal opportunity, which to her was finding a good paying job. Personal opportunities often drive

Americans to work towards their goals in life. In America, it is made possible for Americans to obtain their personal, financial, and international goals. Walt Whitman writes in I Hear America Singing, “Each [individual] singing what belongs to him or her and to none else [...] singing with open mouths their strong melodious song.” Whitman is explaining the fact that an American has the freedom to embark on their own path towards their own opportunities because in America, an American has the ability to obtain the resources and ambition necessary to meet their goals. An American is one with endless opportunities.
An American possesses pride in their country. Many people associate American pride with celebrating the 4th of July or Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, possessing a sense of pride towards America is much more than just a few holidays. Pride is shown in Americans when voting in an election or protesting for a cause. In From The Four Freedoms by Franklin D. Roosevelt it is written that “The first [freedom] is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world.” Roosevelt is explaining one of the many freedoms that Americans have, which relates to the possession of pride allowing Americans to use the principles that America was built upon. In return, this creates a sense of pleasure or satisfaction towards these principles, such as when Americans vote or protest. Pride also exists in joining the army. Senator John McCain writes of his own experiences in the army stating, “Duty, honor country. We must never forget those thousands of Americans who, with courage, with their sacrifice and with their lives, made those words live for all of us”(15). Joining the army shows pride because these Americans risk their lives for America, which is something that they believe in. An American is one with pride for their country.
An American has the chance to create a future for oneself.

For example, Franklin D. Roosevelt writes, “They came to us speaking many tongues-but a single language, the universal language of human aspiration” (3). Roosevelt portrays that Americans come from all over the world; however being an American is about working towards a better and brighter future. Many immigrants came to America for a better future that consists of an education, a career, and/or an asylum for themselves and their families. The image, taken by Frank Leslie is iconic because it shows immigrants coming into New York City, and shows a light coming from behind the Statue of Liberty. Also, the image captures a greater meaning of a bright future in America. The immigrants are leaving the darkness, and heading towards the light, being an American allows people to dream of better lives and work towards those dreams. Over the years, more and more resources have been given to Americans to allow them to obtain their dream such as a primary and secondary education for all. While in other countries, there is still little opportunity and poverty. An American is one with the chance for a future for oneself and their

families
Prior generations have explained an American to be ambitious, tenacious, content, and hopeful. However, now in the 21st century, an American has evolved into a much greater more powerful meaning. An American is better defined as being able to obtain the opportunities that are needed for a future, and possessing a sense of pride to the country.