The American Dream

Myrna Portillo
English 1301
8:00- 8:50 A. M.

The American Dream

Of course, every individual, every American, has their own idea of what is known
as the American Dream. What is the American Dream? That depends on your own
personal, ideas, values, and expectations of our great country. To me, the American
Dream, is the idea of liberty. The freedom to choose whatever path you want to take in
education, religion, and personal lifestyles. To others, it may be the whole idea of George
Washington riding into the plains on an oversized eagle, wearing the American Flag.

That is not my idea of freedom.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, American Freedom is defined as, "An

American social ideal that stresses egalitarianisms and especially material prosperity;
also: the prosperity or life that is the realization of this idea." But what if you were to ask

closer to home, closer to the border? Being in El Paso, we have immigrants, and to them,
the American Dream is different. To them, it is hope. Those who come into America, are
seeking freedom, hope, and a clean start to be better than they were before. Some people
who come into this country, pass immense barriers, and risk their lives to get here. But
they come, because they believe that America has more to offer for them, like it has done
for us. So they come seeking the opportunity to work wherever, make a living however,
and enjoy the perks of living in a free country.
Another part of this American Dream is the education system. Our taxes pay for
everything here. Anyone who is willing to put in the work, has the opportunity to go to
school. If you want to go to college, it takes an hour to sit behind a computer to send in
an application for financial aid. And for the amount of financial aid money you receive,
you could possibly easily pay for your entire college tuition all the way to your PhD.
There is also limitless scholarships to apply for, for any talent, skill, and GPA. In this
country, there is no excuse to not go to school and get an education. Money is not an
option to use as an excuse to not get the education you need to get a decent career.
Another part of the American Dream is ethics and morals. Every one has their
own opinion on that as well. If you were to ask a die hard Texan about religion, they
would tell you they go to church every Sunday and ask God to bless their land. If you ask
someone from California, they are not as strict and may say they attend church when they
need a little extra help. If you drive around a major city, you may drive by a Trinitarian,

Lutheran, Methodist, Apostolic, Pentecostal, and Satanic church all on the same street.
The point is, the variety of religion is limitless because in our land of liberty, we have the
freedom of religion. Their are people who travel across the world to freely participate in
their choice of religion wherever they may go.
The American Dream is also the government. We the people, choose our own
president. In China, you can't even choose how many kids you want to have. We choose
who we want to lead us based on candidates, backgrounds. Their morals, ethics, and
purpose. Their beliefs, hopes and, expectations they plan to accomplish during their terms
if voted into office, by us. We all have rights in America, and once we reach that solid
adult age of 18, we have a voice worth hearing, that could possibly make a difference. If
that doesn't sum up the American Dream, then I don't know what else does.
To help prove the point of The American Dream having several meaning, I did a
small survey and asked a handful of close friends and relatives their idea of the American
Dream. They all have different backgrounds and experiences being an American, and
they were all asked a simple question, "What is your idea of the American Dream?"

Below is the name, background, and response of the individuals I surveyed.

Angie Cardona

17 year old high school

"The American dream is being

Best Friend

junior. Born and raised in

able to do whatever you want,

El Paso, Tx.

whenever you want, without

anyone saying you can't or

that it's wrong. And it's also a

world without Donald Trump.
Cause that's not even
American...or holy."

Asael Cardona

19 year old sophomore in

#no
"American Dream? It's like

Close friend.

college. Born and raised

the American Horror Stories.

in El Paso, TX.

The American Dream is living

life, and just having fun
because it's not like you're
gonna get it trouble. The
horror part is checking your
bank account the morning
after a crazy night out. But at
least you have an account.
And the money to put into
one. The money you got from
the government."

Israel Hernandez

18 year old freshman in

"My idea of the American

Boyfriend

college. Born in Juarez,

Dream is that, you can come

Mexico. Came into

into this country and become

America at the age of 5 to anyone, and do anything you

Chapparal, New Mexico.

strive towards. Like me and

New American citizen.

my family. We came here with

the hopes of making
something of ourselves. And
now, Luis (his older brother)
and I are in college... In

Ruth Christina Arriaga

19 year old sophomore in

America."
"Well I think the American

college. Born and raised

Dream is the living idea. Like

in El Paso, TX.

how we live based on certain

standards that people set. Like
the big brick house on a
country side, with a white
picket fence surrounding your
house, a tractor, two kids...and
a white husband. Wait, is that
what you're asking for?"

April Marioni

47 year old middle school

"The American Dream,

Mother

principal. Born in Rock

traditionally, is being able to

Springs, TX. Raised in Big

rise out of a social and

Lake, TX. As American as

economical level, into

they come.

another. In America, anyone

who has the work ethic and
savvy, can own a property
and home, if they have the

Efrain Marioni

50 year old truck driver.

means to pay for one."

"What I'm living right now.

Step- Dad

Born and raised during

I have a house. I have cars. I

young childhood years in

make good money. I have a

Juarez, Mexico. Came into

job with a very good

America at the age of 7.

company."

Obtained full citizenship at

Efrain Marioni Jr.

the age of 30.

11 year old 6th grader. Born

"What does that mean? I

a.k.a Fraincito

and raised in El Paso, TX.

don't even know what that

Little brother

Has "special needs."

means. I'll Google it. Why

are you asking me?"

As you can see from my survey, everyone has a different opinion on the American
Dream. And some of the influences on their ideas is experience of being or becoming an

American, age, and expectations. For the younger people, they have a simpler view of the
American Dream. Being of the newer generations, we never think to take it into
consideration. But the older, and the ones who had to work hard, and fight to be an
American have a deeper understanding and give it a whole new meaning.
So after all this, what is the American Dream. I believe that everyone can agree
that it involves freedom and equality. But from there, it really comes down to your own
personal opinion. It may not be the same as your neighbor, but there will be several
similarities. And those few similar views, are what make up the American Dream.

References:
Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, (2015), Merriam Webster, Incorporated
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/american%20dream

Donald Trump picture

Google Images, (unknown), Google
http://abastomedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/donald-trump.jpg

Financial aid 101 picture

Google Images, (unknown), Google
https://www.nmu.edu/studentsupport/sites/DrupalStudentSupport/files/UserFiles/Pictures/
2013_Pics/Assistance_with_the_Financial_Aid_Process.jpg

Had consent to name the individuals surveyed:

Angela Cardona
Asael Cardona
Ruth Christian Arriaga
Israel Hernandez
April Marioni
Efrain Marioni
Efrain Marioni Jr.