The American Dream (Essay)

Scott Uria

Professor Kelly

ENC 1102

March 5, 2013

The American Dream

From birth to death, we all have decisions that will dictate our life. When we hear of people living out the American dream, what does that mean? How many of us have actually given it a thought? The American dream is something we all strive for, but what defines whether or not we have accomplished our dream? The fact is, it varies from person to person. I feel that every person decides what they are pursuing, and decides when they have accomplished it. That is the beauty of our country and the pursuit of happiness.

 I recently had the opportunity to hear a wonderful speaker, Mo Garcia, and his experience and translation of the American dream. He explained how he was uprooted from El Salvador and sent to the United States to start a new life. With years of resentment came wasted years. Once the light bulb came on, he knew what he wanted to do, just to be derailed again. Mr. Garcia had to identify his weaknesses and turned those into strengths. Once accomplished, he found success in motivating others to be proactive in life goals. His lecture is structured to make you think about where you fit in, and how to get there. I came home and contemplated whether or not I have lived out my American dream, and the answer is yes.

            Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, I was always intrigued by Fort Jackson, an Army base located nearby. I knew from an early age that I wanted to serve my country as a service member of the United States Armed Forces. Upon completion of high school, I enrolled at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Although I enjoyed the college/campus life, I knew that I needed something to give me more. At the end of the semester, I came home and joined the United States Navy, and shipped out on March 20, 1989.  Sure, basic training was a rude awakening as to what I just signed up for, but I liked the challenge. Before I knew it, twenty years of service was upon me, and retired March 31, 2009. During that time frame, I have traveled the world, free of charge, received free on the job training, free medical and dental, thirty plus days of yearly vacation, unlimited paid sick days, and a free education using the Post 9/11 G.I Bill. Having the opportunity to retire at the age of 39, with a monthly pension for the rest of my life is a sweet deal. Most importantly, I was able to protect the freedoms of my country so other may chase and accomplish their American dream. Yes, I can honestly say that I have and currently am living the American dream!

            Many Americans consider homeownership a major piece of completing life’s dreams. To get to that point, other steps must be accomplished. Mortgage companies will review whether or not the applicant has a secure job, established credit, and debt to income ratio. Two of items listed fall into the large puzzle of the American dream. Employment and strong credit will get a lot in this country. With so many people owning homes, that dream threatened some, and buried others. Our country went into a recession in 2008, and the housing market continues to struggle today. So for those who consider homeownership part of their American dream, has that dream become a nightmare? According to, Statesman Journal, Queenie Wong reports that since 2009, more than a dozen government and private programs have been created to help home owners avoid foreclosure. Now programs are offering more options for homeowners, but they’re also not going off without a hitch. The dream of owning a home is still alive, but it may be a little tougher than years passed.

            I have shared a large portion of my American dream, and the joy and satisfaction I felt upon completion. Sure, I have several other goals to accomplished, and others that have been completed. Upon completion of new goals, it will be another building block to my life of success. Have you figured out what your dream consist of? Some dreams may not be individual, but as a country as a whole.  I would like to share a portion of Martin Luther King Jr. speech, ‘I Have a Dream.’ This should be the foundation of every dream. “From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

                         Queenie Wong, Statesman Journal, September 29, 2012

                         Mauricio “Mo” Garcia, Founder and CEO, MG Success Services

      Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., ‘I Have a Dream’, August 28, 1963