At around 10 years of age my family and I were coming out of a store when we heard an individual yell out, “Go back to Mexico, America houses no aliens!” At that moment, I felt as if this wouldn’t be the last time I would hear these words echo through my life, and I was right.…
The journey of man, the Age of exploration, driven not only by pursuits of wealth, glory, and freedom; but also of human curiosity. An ambitious endeavor; a path filled with peril and failures, leading to fulfilment of dreams. A dream in which each man conquers the world around them, accounting for their experience of success, perseverance, obstacles, and failures which in a multitude of ways reflects the ideas of the American Dream: a dream of being able to grow to fullest development as a man and woman, unhampered by the barriers which had slowly been erected in older civilizations. These men embark on speculations of the New World, in search of riches, freedoms, creeds, and sciences.…
Since I grew up in a family with an abusive father, my response to conflict differs from most people. My father resolved conflict by shouting, degrading, and often physically abusing the other person. My mother’s response to conflict was to try to settle a compromise or walk away until her own frustration was no longer there. I think based off the conflict responses I observed growing up, my responses are a mixture of my parents. When in an intense argument with someone, I attack their character and then silence them out. Family members play a big part in how we resolve conflicts, because a good portion of our lives begin by us spending time with and watching our relatives. We, as a society, adapt skills and mannerisms from those closest to…
A recent event in my life where I felt proud was getting enough money to help my parents pay for bills and succeed and pursue "the american dream". I started to work for HoneyBaked Ham part time since I was eligible to work. The paychecks felt great and giving them to my parents was felt better. As my sister and I get ready for college, the money got tight and I did gigs on the side. I did everything from landscaping to repairing phone screens. Felt stressful but, mind over matter right? Thats exactly what my parents thought when they moved overseas to the new world. I felt a huge sense of pleasure as I could see stress lift off their shoulders when I gave them the money This would help me in college because I know I can give myself the extra…
Success through struggle is a story of one young soldiers attempt at something great. Through the struggles that I endure in this story of my attempts of joining an elite military organization are a testament to Army Values and the warrior ethos. You will learn that even if you do not succeed at first you will find success in other avenues. This story is not for quitters it is for those who enjoy tales that show triumph of the mind, body, and spirit.…
Ever since I was a kid I believed that nothing could harm our country, and I knew even then that all though we were all different we represented something bigger than ourselves or our cultural backgrounds; we represented what I call the American Family! We are so busy fighting each other that we are neglecting to see the true enimies closing in! Even if know one reads this or likes it, I will continue to fight for this country because that's all I know how to do. May the Lord watch over and guide me and my American…
America, land of the free and home of the brave, a country strengthened with rights, equality, and justice. For Americans it’s just a regular country, with regular rules and laws, nothing special about it. Although, to immigrants it’s a country to reinterpret their lives, a better life, a life where they’re free to pursue their happiness and follow their dreams. Even though America is a great country, adjusting to a new culture isn’t easy. It took patience, support, understanding, and passion in order for me to balance two different cultures.…
My family environment has influenced me a lot especially when my siblings were born. I am the oldest out of five, so I'm always look up to. I always had to make a good example and never show that I was scared. When my mom and stepdad had to work, I would take care of them until they came back while getting my schoolwork and practicing my instrument done too. I never really had a chance to be a kid, I always had to be a mother to my siblings. I would always wish for more time in the day for myself, Although watching them grow up from when they were small and started school for the first time made up for that loss time. I live up to a quote, "Be the master of your future, not the slave of your problems." My senior year I had to stop being…
Shouts and laughter echo throughout the kitchen as my grandparents recount stories of growing up in Mexico as young adults. Everyone’s eyes light up with animation as family members contribute to the conversation while eating homemade tamales and menudo. At each of my family holiday gatherings, the dinner goes beyond the consumption of a home cooked meal. These family gatherings are very important to me and have contributed to who I am today.…
Samuel, I really enjoyed your post as I like hearing about other people’s family history since mine is so diverse. With your skin tone, eyes, and hair I can see why someone may say you look Hispanic. At least you take it in stride. Today, too many people get offended when someone calls them the wrong race or ethnic origin. It is really good that you continue your family’s tradition of cooking Greek and Italian dishes and I hope your children continue that. My family has been in this country so long and has so many nationalities in the mix that we have Southern traditions instead of a specific country. I do enjoy researching my family’s history. I do not have anyone famous in my family so far, but my great-great grandfather, Private John Henry Gwathney, did manage to survive the Civil War while serving under General Nathan Bedford Forrest.…
In the book, The Epic of America, written in the year of 1931, author James Truslow Adams was the first to give a “clear” definition of what the American Dream really is. He stated that the American Dream is “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (Truslow 214). Although his definition describes what the American Dream is, it does not explain what everyone’s American Dream is throughout the world. This is because each person has their own idea of a perfect life, therefore giving them their own distinct Dream and ways to achieve it. For some people, the ideal and perfect life may mean finally leaving their home country and traveling to America to be successful and prosperous. For others, it may mean getting married, having two beautiful children living in a three bedroom house with a white picket fence. Although several people may have the same outcome they would like to accomplish, it is how they get there that distinguishes them from the rest. As a young, only child, I determined what I wanted my American Dream to be and that was to grow up underneath the influence of my parents and have the perfect family with a dog, but I still have yet to make it there. Sometimes, some people just have to wake up and realize that their American “Dream” is more like an American “Nightmare.”…
In 2006 I moved to California with my parents, to pursue the American Dream that was dreamed by every foreigner It was seen as a great way to escape the danger and poverty we faced everyday in Peru. When we finally got here, the american dream was a myth, and working hard barely got you anywhere. Since day 1 both my parents have worked more than 40 hours a week to get food on the table, and the table back in Peru. They both support their parents and siblings financially, meaning there is no aid for me here. I wake up to do everything by myself, cook, clean, go to school, and especially homework. The workload from school kept getting harder each year, and it got worse during the start of high school. When I first arrived back from my first day of 9th grade I had to annotate a poem written by Shakespeare. As I sat down to do the homework I realized I didn't know what annotating meant. I asked my parents for help and they didn’t even knew who Shakespeare was. The same routine happened everyday, it's even happening now as I ask for advice on how to apply for college. No answer.…
Ever since I was born, I was a military brat. Not knowing where to call home, or if any place could be home, I moved. I moved six times, four of those places were towns that nobody could think about. Germany, North Carolina, Alaska, North Carolina, Germany, and Alaska, yet no place to call home. May 22, 1999, my first day on this world; Kronach hospital had its first American baby in their hands, yet they acted like I was a different species. The only event I remember was when I was about one. While I was one, I grabbed everything in my reach, even a grill handle. As a baby, I did not know that the handle was moving, the grill top had smashed my thumb. Ever since that event, I now have a starfish mark on the side of my right thumb from where the stiches were.…
Anyone who’s ever thought about living the good life has pictured the best life ever. When we picture this perfect life we see a life with endless possibilities, having enough money to just go crazy with it, going to all the parties, and just living life without a care in the world. While I sit here and think about it most of my friends believe that a life of no worries and work, a life without the worry of responsibility is the "American dream." That used to be what I thought it was but as i am growing up I have realized that there is much more to it. To me, the "American dream" is a life of happiness, a life without worrying about the financial problems that come up, and a life where you are successful at what you do.…
I came back from Belgium last Friday May 20th.I was attending my sister's wedding and on my way back I enter through Chicago since that was the close way to come back to Missouri. When I passed through immigration checking they denied me the entrance into the United States. They cancel my student visa F1 and they send me back to Panama on the Saturday morning.…