Preview

What Exactly Is the American Dream? Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
952 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Exactly Is the American Dream? Essay Example
Aysia S. Bertrand

What Exactly is the American Dream? The word “American Dream’’ is something that all Americans think about having every day. The “American Dream” can be used in many ways like having the dream job you always wanted, living a perfect and happy life, or owning a well money making business. Depending on how each person visualizes his or her “American Dream” determines whether he or she sees success or failure. The “American Dream” as something each individual would go through and not let anyone or anything stand in the way to achieve that dream. In my opinion the “American Dream” is like a goal. A goal one must follow to accomplish ones dream, whether it is a short or long term goal. The “American Dream” is what makes the society, because everybody is trying to make it to the top of being the best they can be. Determination, motivation, and patience can lead to a successful American Dream,” however, giving up, laziness, and lack of knowledge due to failure will keep one from achieving that dream. Determination is the act or an instance of making a decision. It is a choice one has to make in achieving into that “American Dream.” If it is something one must have; for example, a big time promotion of being a manager or finding a cure for cancer, then he or she should go out of their way to be successful in achieving ones “American Dream.” Motivation is the reason one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. In this case one might need motivation in achieving the “American Dream” it is an incentive. If there is somebody one really trusts or who he or she can really count on to help and motivate them in to achieving that “American Dream” then when the time has come that “American Dream” will be rewarded to he or she for their hard work all because of the motivation he or she is getting.
By receiving that “American Dream” ones need to have patience, the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    “The American Dream is a term that is often used but also often misunderstood. It isn't really about becoming rich or famous. It is about things much simpler and more fundamental than that.” - Unknown The American dream is the idea that every citizen of the United States of America should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or the class they were born into can attain their own version of success in a society where there is equal opportunities for everyone. The American dream is not achieved by being lazy or by chance but rather through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work. Both native-born Americans and American immigrants who work hard can achieve the American dream.…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The term “American Dream” is used in a number of ways, but essentially the American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives.…

    • 215 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Dream is the dream of many people living and immigrating to America. Everyone has his or her own personal dream, but not everyone can attain the American Dream. There are a lot of different reasons as to why the dream cannot be attained. An example of this is can be found in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. George, Lennie, and Candy have obstacles in their way that was keeping them from attaining the American Dream.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American dream is a complex idea that is individualized by personal ambitions. Although the definition can vary, most often, this ideation of American involves financial prosperity as a result of hard work. The American dream is not a myth, but it is slowly becoming eradicated due to decreasing quality of life and society limiting those who do not originate from a traditional background to certain lifestyles.…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Key to the American Dream The American dream is the idea that a better life can be achieved for oneself through hard work and a vision for what you want. Everyone is free to do as they wish and has an equal chance of achieving their dream. For decades, people from all around the world have come to this land of opportunity to pursue their dreams and ambitions. Even people who grew up with the amenities America has to offer have created their own fantasies of what they want their futures to become.…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Dream is a concept that can be traced to the founding fathers of America, which entails ideals such as democracy, equality, freedom, liberty, human rights and opportunity for all to live a better and prosperous life. These ideals are achieved through hard work in an environment that has no barriers and offers equal opportunities for all. The coming of the American Dream came with the declaration of independence from England. People were filled with hope as they believed in the right to freedom, life and pursuing happiness. The idea was the creation of a nation in which people would be free from restrictions to pursue the life they want for themselves. This definition of the American Dream has changed over the course of time as people started deviating from the ideals of liberty, rights, and hard work. Hard work is now just caused by wanting to make the most money and wanting to have power and control.…

    • 524 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The American dream is what someone think living in America is or would be like. The American dream really depends one what the person thinks America is in their “dream”. America has always been known as the place of freedom and opportunities. As an American, you’re set up to be successful. In other countries, you can be limited depending on where you are and that can make it difficult.…

    • 227 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American dream is the idea held by many in the United States of America that through hard work, courage and determination one can achieve prosperity. These were values held by early settlers, and have been passed on to following generations. What the American dream has become is a question under constant discussion. What is the American dream? Many authors, poets and photographers have tried their hand at depicting their idea or the concept of the American dream. Langston Hughes, one of the many distinguished poets in the United States has written a number of poems reflecting the African American way of life and how it coincides with the American Dream. Matthew Warshauer, a professor of History at Central Connecticut…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The American Dream” phrase was coined in 1931, used to describe why people what to come to America or what they want to achieve in America. However, the American Dream is difficult, almost rarely achieved. Many have access to it but do not fulfill their entire goal they wished to accomplish. Some say it is forever happiness, other say it is money. Whatever their dream may be, it is all just a game of success of the fortunate.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The American Dream is the idea that if you are focused and work hard enough, you can be successful in America. We find ourselves in a time in our nation’s history where this long believed opportunity of grandeur and promise could be over. I believe it is important to stay positive. As citizens of the United States, we make up the American Dream, and we must remind ourselves every day about that. To find this success you must have a dream, and the will to never give up on that dream. From what I have seen thus far in my existence on this planet is that people have forgotten to follow their dreams. I realize it is sometimes hard to understand what that dream is, but focus and hard work get you what you want.…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    We hear the term American Dream referenced many times in our lives, but do we really know what the American Dream is? Is it having more money and more power than everyone else? Is it moving to Hollywood and becoming a famous movie star? What is the American Dream? According to James Truslow Adams, the author of the book The Epic of America, 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. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve the fullest stature of which they are capable of, and be recognized by others…

    • 1244 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Dream to me seems like it’s overused. To me the American Dream is just a made up term for a “normal dream” because all it is is wanting success. The American Dream is just wanting to have a job, have an education, and have a family.…

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An American Dream is when someone wants to achieve or reach a goal to have a better future and life and that they get help and support from their family and friends. For example, my parents, my dad went to college and finished his career in veterinary but my mom she didn't get to finish her career she only got to do two years why? Because she already had two kids and another one on the way,…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The American Dream is the statement that anyone can do absolutely anything they want, need, or see fit to better their lives. If someone feels they are unhappy with something about their lives, they have the opportunity (Something that is rare in this world) to do as they please to make what they want better.…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays