I Have a Dream, a Song to Sing| The American Dream

After reading the American classic, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I have a new sense of what may be the "American Dream."

In the novel, Fitzgerald used Gatsby's character to convey the one thing many people sought after in the 1920's - self made wealth and prosperity. The end of the Great War brought a new sense of happiness and optimism to the American society, as depression and death plagued the decade before. With that being said, materialism and consumerism rose at exponential rates while much of the society put an emphasis how much money was spent and flaunted. Thus, with this becoming a new social value, the American Dream developed in to something associated with wealth and rising in socioeconomic status.

I would describe the American Dream that Fitzgerald was embodying in Gatsby is that an individual's sense of self worth and their success in life is directly linked to their wealth and monetary value of their possessions. In the society Fitzgerald was reflecting wealth was clearly the type that was associated with money and abundance, especially as many indulgences were satisfied in result of wealth being prioritized during this time.

However, as time passed and society has changed and developed, the "American Dream" has gained a new definition. With immigration laws, and the United States being a place of refuge by those impacted by violence and war, the new "American Dream" encapsulates the feeling of safety and securing prosperity for future generations. I can attest to the development of this as I am an example of the achievement of this "American Dream."

Both of my parents immigrated to the United States when they were younger with their families in hope to seek a higher quality of life, and to secure their futures.

My mother's journey started when she was only a year old in 1975 during the trail end of the Vietnam war. Her family, hoping to escape the communists, made their way over to America seeking refuge and a place to restart their lives. The war disrupted their lives, and terror of the communists pushed them to look to the United States as the place to go to try to find peace and safety.

My father's journey was a little different. Growing up in the Philippines, his family saw an opportunity to leave and come to America, so they took it. Leaving the comfort of his homeland, moving to the United States only offered more opportunities for him and his family - so why not go? So when he was about 11 years old, his family packed up and moved here in hopes to make a better life for them.

While the "American Dream" then and now is quite considerably different, they both have to deal with money in order to secure social status (1920's) or financial security (modern). This goes to show how money will always play a role in the establishment of a dream, especially as society continues on to an emphasis on allowing money to being a defining factor of happiness and well being.

I am also very grateful and appreciative that both my parents were able to successfully achieve this "American Dream" and had the ability to allow me to live the life that I do.

**Dreams always remind me of ABBA and Mamma Mia**