Jocelyn J Alvarado
CCDE 110, Section 1
June 24, 2009
Route to Your American Dream
An America Dream is going to college, getting a good job, and finally getting
your own family. Many people look at the term American Dream and automatically
think about having the richest and finest. I know I did when I first saw the question, Is
the American Dream a Myth? I strongly believe that it is not a myth because everyone
has the opportunity to better themselves. Its mainly their choice if they're going to be
determined to stick with it. We have so many options now days that if you say the
American Dream is a myth than you're just lazy, you have no confidence in yourself,
and you haven't known any better than what your life already seems. The Government
offers or should I say is working on offering everyone a equal opportunity to better
themselves and continue their education despite anyone's personal setbacks or reasons.
There is financial aid, Student Loans, and Community Colleges for the students who
can't afford the expense of a 4 course year.
The United States founded the declaration of Independent, "All men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, among
these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness." Because of that the American
Dream is not a myth. People have not been going to school for many reasons. One
being that they make to much money for financial aid and financially going to school
will not work because of other expenses. Students or parents of students making to
much money to qualify for Financial Aid will soon be changed. According to Baum, S
(2009), President Obama is requesting the assurance to students that their efforts to
earn money to supplement their student aid will not diminish their eligibility for aid.
Obama is also working on lowering interest rates for Perkins Loan programs. All of
these options are being looked at by our president, because he knows the importance
of an education. According to Hebel, S. Obama's goal for college graduates has highly
been increased, he wants the nation to have to world's highest proportion of college
graduates by 2020. Obama states, "That is a goal we can meet." Having said that by
our President of the United States he knows that it is not impossible and he as well as
myself believe that anyone can achieve the American dream.
Some people think the American dream is a myth because they don't believe
they can just lift themselves up from poverty and hard work. According to a yahoo
posting retrieved June 23, 2009, they believe that the odds are always stacked against
them because of racism, classism, sexism, etc. It's expected to them that most people
will fail. The "Dream" basically implies that if you don't succeed, it must be due to your
own failures. These people believe that only the lucky can achieve a American dream.
In the end the majority of today's society is not motivated or determined to use the
sources that the Government provides to better themselves to start and finish their
education.
Many people have never turned to school because the jobs they work have make
good money and they don't plan for the future or for any changes. According to Keen,
J. (n.d) many people's lives are affected everyday because of layoffs so they turned to
school. They decided to continue their education because they really had no choice
left. Many people had to hit rock bottom to realize that where they were in life isn't
were they really wanted to be and education changes all that and opens up many
doors. Adrian San Miguel, senior enrollment specialist of Larry Selland College says,
"There's a lot of initial fear and uncertainty about starting school, one of the first things
they said is, "It's been a while since I've been in school." We tell them not to let that
hold them back." Many lay off workers are pursuing new careers in medical fields and
information technology. These people realized that in order to get to where they want
to be they have a few setbacks. One major setback is that their pay checks may be
less than what they were in the factory but that isn't a importance anymore, they want
security.
The oldest student at Larry Selland College is around 60 yrs old. If they can do
it I think anyone can do it. You just have to put your mind to it. In most parts of the
world, people want to get well educated, to get a good job, and mostly important to
create a family. Some people are capable of going to school, some people use their
resources to complete their education and be placed in a good job and support their
family to achieve their American Dream. Whoever doesn't want these things I would
have to say is very confused with the life they are living and need to gain some
independence. The American Dream is not a myth everything in life is possible if you
put your mind to it and use the sources that are given to you.