The American Dream

Any American, in today's modern society, has at the very least heard the phrase "the American Dream". But, what exactly is the American Dream? Too many people today think that the American Dream is about having things. Having a nice house! Having a nice car! Having a nice job! Having a nice family! This goes along with the current mentality of Americans, they want all the finer things in life, but refuse to put in the work to get them. The Occupy Wall St. movement clearly shows this. These protesters didn't hate wealth, they hated that they didn't have it and someone else did. Rather than go out and attain wealth for themselves, these people (along with liberal, political leaders) want to take the wealth from those who have earned it and give it to those who haven't. This is called redistribution of wealth. However, this was never the American Dream. The American Dream wasn't about becoming wealthy, or having nice things; the American Dream was about making. Making yourself a better person! Making your family and their lives better! Making your community and nation better! Making the world better! People came to America, not because there was no social class, but because any one, with enough hard work and determination, could move up to a higher class. America wasn't equal in that everyone has the same amount of wealth; America gives everyone equal opportunities to make something of themselves. You don't go too college to make money, you go to college to better yourself. I, like so many other American youth, went to college and choose a major that would simply make lots of money. However, I have now learned that college is about growing intellectually and professionally. In May of next year, I will become the first person in my family to graduate from college. I do this to better my self and y family, not to earn money. One day, I will be well off fiscally, but that is not my goal, it will be a by product of my hard work and determination to improve myself.
That is the American Dream!