Equality and Success

Its crazy to think that during one of the toughest economic times in American history, a large majority of the people still have faith in their success or their ability to succeed. I think that says something about our culture, our beliefs, and most importantly, the resonance of the American dream. In a poll following the 2008-2009 recession, "75 percent told pollsters from CBS News and the New York Times that they had either already achieved the American Dream or that they expected to achieve it; only one in five said it was unattainable (CBS News/New York Times 2009)". With the recession being only second to the great depression as one of the greatest economic hits in American history, that is an outstanding statistic that symbolizes how people still have faith in the American dream.

That was a very interesting statistic because I think that the idea of the American Dream is what pushes people to fight harder to succeed. Later on in the chapter, the author states how equality of opportunity significantly adds to the resonance and relevance of the American Dream and that is also something that I agree with. When everybody believes that they have an equal chance to succeed, that contributes to the fiery passion pushing one to make it. America is one of the most progressive countries in the world constantly fighting for equal rights amongst everybody. There have been so many movements aiming for equal treatment for women, people of color, and gender-fluid people. I think that there is a strong correlation between an interest in equal rights in America and a widely-held belief that anybody can succeed. America’s history is based on constant changes and catalytic events that sped up the progress of equal rights. I believe that with a backstory like that, anybody in America can have the power to dream of something and possess the will to achieve that dream.

Personally, that idea is something that has motivated me to succeed in life as well. I grew up in a very diverse background in the city of Long Beach, CA. I went to Polytechnic High School which is ranked as the 2^nd most diverse city in the nation. Basically, I’ve been around people from a variety of backgrounds and upbringings and am no stranger to diverse settings. I believe growing up in an environment like that helped me view everybody around me as equals. I was also able to see people of color and people who have had faced barriers throughout their life succeeding and able to achieve what they wanted to. My mom is a great example, because she is someone who faced the difficulties of being a refugee of war, being a foreigner in a new land, and raising 4 kids, yet still be able to achieve success in life. She was able to build herself up from the bottom and attain a career as a well-known hairstylist in Long Beach. I remember going to fast food places or the mall with my mom and people greeting her and recognizing her from the barber shop. My friends from my high school would also always tell me how my mom was one of the sickest barbers in the city (it was also cool always getting free haircuts myself). She was also able to make ends meet and provide a substantial amount for me and my family. And for that, my mother is also my role model and a great example of how equal opportunity and the American Dream go hand-in-hand in America.