Kit - American Dream

The American Dream. This ideal has been ingrained in every child in America hoping for success in life. It claims that every American has the chance to rise up from the depths of poverty to great wealth. It is the reason that so many foreigners want to immigrate to the Land of Opportunity. In reality, however, not many people are fortunate enough to accomplish this goal; for most, the idea of rags-to-riches is no more than a “dream.” The “Dream” began before the States of America were even United, during a time when British entrepreneurs who had run out of luck in their homeland looked to the New World as a chance to grow their fortunes. After the independence of the colonies, the perception of the dream continued because of the revolutionary freedoms America offered. What was unique to the United States was its democratic society, as there were no laws preventing citizens from improving their class status, laws which were prevalent in many contemporary nations. These freedoms encouraged massive numbers of immigrants to leave their poverty-stricken lands in order to seek their own American Dream. Many people realized that dream; however, most have been unsuccessful in their quest.Someone who achieved the American Dream is Chris Gardener, the man portrayed in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Through hard work, intelligence, and great luck, Gardener was able to rise from a homeless man to a wealthy executive. This is an inspiring success story, but it is the kind of story you make a movie out of, not a typical experience. In the world today, there are hundreds of people with high intellect and a strong work ethic, but there are not enough opportunities for all of them to succeed. In order to achieve the “Dream,” individuals need to have some luck in order for them to be recognized for their abilities, and stand out from the rest. The harsh reality is that people with money have more chances to demonstrate their skills, and therefore have an easier time distinguishing themselves. Whether it is through personal “connections” or graduation from an elite university, wealthy people tend to have an easier time getting noticed. And every time a rich person is hired, there is usually someone who is equally if not more qualified left chasing their American Dream.