Reimagining the American Dream: A Perspective

The American Dream is Shaped by Those Who Chase It
The American Dream is about not giving up. It is about working relentlessly through the hours of the day at two or even three jobs to supply your family with a sufficient income. It is about overcoming the language barrier, the achievement gap, and the limitations at any school or work force. To me the American Dream is about seeing the results of your dedicated hard work and paying it forward to those who are working just as hard to thrive. The American Dream cannot be measured based on the abundance of tangible goods; it cannot be taken superficially. Rather it is driven by not letting the lack of sustainable income or resources hold you back from achieving your greatest potential. The American Dream is still thriving today thanks to the entrepreneurs taking a lead in

the future of the Greater Washington area.
The American Dream is so real that it drives people to even risk their lives for a taste of the opportunities offered in America. It is expected that the “number of children apprehended while traveling alone [across the Mexican border] could reach 142,000” by the end of this year (“Surge In Children”). These children range from the ages of toddlers to teenagers, whom are sent by the their families in hopes of sparing them from the violent gang crimes and kidnappings. These children are not sent on a whim. They are sent because regardless of one’s socioeconomic status in America anyone who is willing to dedicate the effort regardless of the circumstances will see the outcome. I come from an immigrant family who came across several empty promises. Who had no other option but to put their best foot forward at everything. Who overcame challenges that seemed next to impossible to people living a much more comfortable life. Who persevered through every single fall and had nothing to risk emigrating from a corrupt communist country. My family did not speak a word of English, or was granted a safe haven when immigrating. My father faced working as a newspaper distributor after having been the designer in chief for a company advertising brands like Pepsi, Cola, Polar, and Nestle. He was paid at minimum wage, and could not afford paying for more than a room for the three of us to live under. The burden of returning to Venezuela outweighed the impediments that we faced, and it motivated my father to tenaciously drive us through the hardships. Facing unemployment did not obscure his focus because he subsequently launched his own business to provide for our future and well-being. My father has reached the essence of the American Dream, learning that it is up to the individual on how far they are willing to take themselves and overcome their own limitations. He has embraced our failures and applied them as a lesson to our future. After nine years of painstaking hard work and persistence he was able to triple our income and thanks to his perseverance we never faced turning around and quitting. He applied the fact that “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure” which is the essential core of the American Dream (“Career Advice”).
The aspiration to overcome hardships is not the same reality for everyone. Unfortunately some people are intimidated by competition and dedication and as a result, achieving their dream seems completely far-fetched. Many argue that our society is in the hands of imperious corporations. That people cannot reach out of their boundaries because of how limited they are by competitors. Corporations are not born big. Everyone has to start at the same starting line; the only difference that defies each competitor is his or her level of persistence to accomplish success. My aunt six years ago was laid off and faced unemployment as a result of the economic recession in 2009. She pursued several other employments, but was disappointed with every denial. She took entrepreneurship realizing that the only way to survive during that time in the greater Washington area was to be her own boss. Six years later she is running her own business known as “A Mother’s Hand.” She is a personal and home concierge, serving people in Howard, Laurel, and Montgomery County. She now has employees of her own and has a busy schedule working through everyday of the week. She has understood the principle of the American Dream, realizing that you are not dependent on anyone to provide for your success. She propelled her future through her entrepreneurship in the greater Washington area, proving that the American dream is still thriving here – as she overcame unemployment and dedicated her efforts to her business to be able to thrive.
The issue that pertains to the American Dream is its’ level of attainability because lack of equal opportunity or resources is a prominent obstacle in our society. There are several barriers like equal economic, racial, or gender opportunity that impede many people’s level of success, and they sprout from the prejudicial actions of people with overpowering jurisdiction. Needless to say they fool people into believing that opportunity is only offered to the dominating gender or race; this is done with the intentions of driving out those certain individuals. As an immigrant I can corroborate the fact that equal opportunity is practically inexistent. CNN reported on several undocumented families who have children that are dreamers and are vigorously working to overcome the social economic barriers, establish their own business, be successful, autonomous, and resemble the definition of the American Dream. Mirelda mother of nineteen year old Chavarria, a graphic designer and budding entrepreneur in Phoenix declares that "Few of the young people born here take advantage of their opportunities here... my daughter, with the little she's been able to study, has done so much with so little. If she had all the tools they give citizens, she'd be more than what she is now" (“I’m a Successful”). The availability of resources varies within each individual. Certain people have to work harder and reach further for what comes handed to others. Having to work harder to overcome obstacles only increases how much one values their own accomplishments. As a result of growing up in an economically unstable household I learned to cherish the value of a buck and to value what I earned. I treasure every milestone because I became aware of how difficult it is to obtain materialistic, economic, or academic success. Being born in a low socioeconomic class does not inhibit opportunity because the greatest thing about this country is the opportunity for competition. Competition is the backbone of America and it has defined the American Dream. Competition leads people to reach out of their limits and defy the odds. It is what drives people to be entrepreneurs, to be outstanding, work harder, persevere, and achieve their goal.
Your American Dream is shaped by your path not solely by where you end.

As a resident of Montgomery County I am privileged to be a student of a school system that is highly ranked nationwide. I am privileged to have grown up with two assiduous parents, who overcame the language barrier and provided for me regardless of the circumstances. Unfortunately not everyone that grows up in the greater Washington area is this privileged. Many have to deal with the absence of one or both of their parents, learning disabilities, or lack of resources for efficiently completing school assignments. Which is why I believe that the American Dream varies through each individual. You cannot compare yourself to anyone because everyone has to cope with different limitations. I believe that it is not limited or defined by how large or small your level of success is, or by how intelligent an individual is, but measured by the dedication and hard work regardless of any circumstances. It is being able to look back five, ten, fifteen years and acknowledge how many obstacles were overcome, how many pessimists were proven wrong, and how far from the beginning one has

come.
Hardships are what define individuals and their character. They shape their ability to confront issues and problem solve. The ability to problem solve is a primordial factor to success. It defines how we approach social, economic, and academic issues. These factors impact our attainment to achieving the American Dream, which is defined by working hard and overcoming circumstances like unemployment or lack of equal gender or racial opportunity. The spirit of competition in the entrepreneurs of the greater Washington area has kept the American Dream alive. It is lead and shaped by the individuals that dedicate perseverance to overcome their own limitations and outcompete the odds.