Dream On 

               The American Dream, one's ideals pertaining to the manner in which one chooses to guide their life, significantly differs among every American due to the unique backgrounds and lifestyles each individual is born into. Ian Brown's article "American Dreams" perfectly reflects these distinctive dreams, as he presents pictures of individuals along with their hand-written aspirations for the lifestyle they hope to one day fulfill. Brown includes a variety of Americans- young & old, male & female, Caucasian & African American- to vividly portray the idea that "we all start somewhere". Although one cannot decide the life that they will be born into, they can gradually begin to form goals and ideas which will guide them toward their desired lifestyle.
              The dream noted in Brown's article which I deemed most significant was that of Billy Pfaff. Pfaff, a once suicidal man, epitomizes the extent of one's inner strength, which often goes unnoticed. It is much easier for us to give up and bring an end to our suffering; however, maximizing our strength in dark times provides us with immense spiritual and intellectual growth. As Billy Pfaff set the gun down, he picked up a new lifestyle which would eventually allow him to better the lives of several individuals around him. Although dreaming to "never give up" may sound cliché, persevering through bumps in the road certainly creates a prosperous lifestyle. Billy Pfaff's story expresses the importance of never giving up.
             While reading through the emotional and inspiring stories of the Americans included in Brown's article, I often thought to myself "what is my American Dream?". I traveled back through my memories, good and bad, reflecting on who I was and who I have become. However, I believe that my recent transition from high school to college has inevitably permitted me to discover my American Dream. Because of this transformation, I now understand that my American Dream is independence.
              I dream of an America without stereotypes. An America free of parents' pressure to live the life they imagined for you. An America free of cliques. An America without labels. I desire to live the life I envision for myself, free of doubt from others. Individuals should not be judged based on their backgrounds or who they choose to associate themselves with. With the creation of an individualistic culture, individuals would become more self-reliant, thus making it easier to gain complete knowledge of themselves and their ideal lifestyles.
              The above photo of myself represents my transition to my independent college life, as I leave behind my hometown in Corona to live in San Diego. Living without my parents down the hall and other family members within a 30 mile radius, I will embark on my journey to acquire my own American Dream of independence. I will assure success for myself as I begin to shut out the doubtful opinions of others, all the while creating a name for myself that will one day receive its overdue appraisal. Through my college journey and further on, I shall continue dreaming of independence until I can fulfill my desired dream.
               American Dreams are salient as they provide structure and meaning to our lives. When we fall short of such dreams, we feel displeased and know we must strive to be better. Likewise, when our dreams are finally satisfied, we experience great feelings of success and prosperity. My American Dream serves as a constant reminder of my character, thus convincing me to never settle for anything less than I deserve.

-Taylor Urena