The stereotypical idealistic family: a son, a daughter and both parents pursuing reliable careers while keeping their children disciplined… owning a decently nice home and a few cars, having children involved in sports and having family as the main priority. In a perfect world maybe this would be attainable, but when people come from different roots and cultures, this just isn’t the case.

From a young age, students are grown in a society putting a large emphasis on ‘The American Dream.’ Children are told from kindergarten to graduation even through adulthood to pursue ‘The American Dream.’ Oftentimes we forget to acknowledge the fact that everyone’s future expectations are unique to specific individuals. 

Instead of telling our students what painting to look at, we should take them to the art museum. We must comprehend that the variance of wants and needs will change from person to person. Allowing our students to choose goals for themselves instead of developing an American Dream for them.

We grow differently. Some are brought up in wealth, some in poverty, others with separated parents, etc. In other words, jamming the same idea of what an idealistic family or what one’s dreams should look like into a generic sized mold is just not acceptable. Instead, let’s celebrate our variations because that’s what sets America apart.

As Americans, we have tendencies to dwell on our flaws. We tend to fix our eyes upon the ways we have wronged each other, we shift blame where it doesn’t belong or we often take offence to minor comments as an instead,  let us challenge ourselves to see the bigger picture. The freedoms we experience each day of being able to be open and vulnerable about what we believe. Us having the ability to challenge each other’s thinking while also developing our own. That is ‘The American Dream.’

Let us remember that ‘The American Dream’ has a distinctive definition for each individual. It is a montage of wishes and hopes that you collect over the years. The beauty of America is that you don’t have to follow a specific set of instructions to build your house; alternatively, you can piece it together as you please.