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Opinion: The American Dream Is Alive and Well (The New York Times) 

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Opinion: The American Dream Is Alive and Well (The New York Times) 

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This article written by Samuel J Abrams, on February 5 in 2019 gives evidence proving the American Dream is alive and well. The author got Americans to take a survey regarding the American Dream. The first question was what makes the American Dream a reality, and most answered with to have freedom of choice how to live. The traditional factors weren't as important to them, but most believed that the ways to achieve the American Dream included becoming wealth, having a successful career, etc. Additionally, about 80% of people of color say that they are on their way of achieving their American Dream or have achieved it. For those 80% of people their race, background, and history does not get to them, and they are doing everything to succeed. At the end of the day, individuality and family are what Americans seek in accomplishing their American Dream.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/opinion/american-dream.html

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The epilogue of The Distance Between Us, basically sums up the story. Reyna explains to the audience that she graduated from UCSC and earned her BA in creative writing. In 2002, she became a U.S. citizen. Then in 2006, she wrote her first novel, and then in 2009 her second. In 2008 she received her MFA in creative writing and was still the only person in her family to graduate from college. Then, over the next years she regained her relationship with Mila, and stayed close with her siblings as well as Diana. And in the end, she realized that even if she knew what her life would've been if she followed her papi to El Otro Lado, she still would've came. He made her who she is today. This last chapter proves my thesis, that the American Dream is alive and well. Reyna is living her American Dream, she defeated all the odds stopping her and made a name for herself.

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For the interview part of this assignment, I chose to interview my dad. His name is Manuel Rosales, who is 50 years old and came to the United States from Mexico when he was 8 years old. The American Dream to my dad means, a land of endless possibilities, where you can achieve anything as long as you work for it. When my dad migrated to the U.S., one thing that my abuelos impressed on my dad was the importance of an education. My dad took my abuelos advice, and because he did he was able to accomplish his American Dream. He is the owner of 3 different companies and got himself out of poverty. Poverty is the one thing that influenced him to reach his American Dream. And at the end of the day, my father believes that the American Dream is possible to achieve. If someone falls short of their American dream, it's on that person for not trying hard enough. Interviewing my dad supports my thesis because he is the American Dream.

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The poem The Rose That Grew from The Concrete was written by Tupac between the years of 1989-1991. This poem represents how someone can become something great, even though where they come from isn't considered great. The whole poem is inspirational, but there are 2 lines that stood out to me the most. "But by keeping its dreams/ It learned 2 breathe fresh air" (Tupac, "The Rose That Grew from The Concrete 5-6). These lines show that no matter the odds, you can over come it. When things seem like that can't be, don't lose hope and keep showing up because it will come eventually. Another line that stood out to me from this poem is from line 8, "When no one else even care!". Line 8 demonstrates how everyone is just trying to find a way to survive, they don't care if you succeed or not. No one is looking out for you to make something out of yourself, so you have to preserver and work harder than everyone else. This poem correlates to my thesis statement because once a black man from the ghetto defined all odds and is now one of the best well-known rappers. This proves that the American Dream is alive and well.

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McFarland USA was produced in 2015 by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray. This film is based about some Mexican runners who lived in McFarland, California. They all came from immigrant families, who's parents had to work really hard for everything. Most of their fathers did not agree with letting them participate in cross country because it took them away from working in the fields making money for the family. So, their cross country coach tried to accommodate the training for them to particiapte. Their cross-country coach took this group of immigrant runners, that were not likely to succeed, and turned them into some of the best long-distance runners. This movie supports my thesis statement because it shows the value of hard work and to get what you put in.

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It sounds so easy to find happiness, or to be happy. But it's one thing I've struggled with being constantly. So, in the future if I don't have a family or wealth, I would want above all to finally be happy.

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Family has always important to me. I want a family like the one I have now, but I want us to be closer. I want my children to be able to talk to me without getting embarrassed, or feeling ashamed.

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I know money isn't everything. But I would like to earn enough money to be like my dad. Dad has had major setback in his life, but now is able to comfortable enough to buy what he wants and not worry of how it will effect his savings.

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The American dream is the understanding that anyone, no matter who they are or their background, can achieve anything here in America. As long as that person has hope, desire, and drive for something that they want, they can accomplish it. Here in America there are endless opportunities for one to succeed. It's a matter of what they are going to do to get where they want. It's a matter of how badly they want that something. My American Dream is achieving everything I put my mind to. I want a life where at the end of the day I can be proud of myself for everything I've accomplished and not to have any regrets about anything.