Definition Essay: Whart It Means to Be an American

Doris Morales Professor Benavidez To be an American means to follow your goals and dreams. As cliché as that may sound, the United States is the land of the free. Of course it’s not free to live here financially but it’s free in the sense you can become whoever you want to be. For example, a doctor, a lawyer, or a business owner. My parents came to the United States about 25 years ago to have a better life. My parents were born in El Salvador. About 25 years ago they came to the U.S. because they knew they had no future in their country. They each come from large families. My dad has 9 siblings and my mom has 12. They both grew up very poor and it was hard to grow up with so many siblings and no money. When the older siblings started coming to the U.S. my mom and dad decided to cross the border themselves. My mom’s main reason was to give her son from a previous marriage a better life. My parents met each other when they were here in the U.S. They had two other children, my sister and me, and to this day have given us the best lives they have been able to. They have worked very hard to give my sister and I everything that we ever needed. They did not want us to grow up the way they did. My parents always tell me to work hard I will be able to become whatever I want to be in life. They tell me to take advantage of the opportunity I have living in this country. My parents hard work and accomplishments have taught me that I can do whatever I set my mind to do. At this time I am not sure what I want my career to be but I know I want to be successful. Everyone wants to be successful but not everyone is willing to work hard to be successful. My parents have taught me that the key to become successful is to work hard. In the end my goal is to work hard, become successful, and to repay my parents somehow for their hard work. Following my goals and dreams makes me an American. I live in a country that has so many opportunities for me to be the best person