The American Dream Is the Ultimate Goal

Many U.S. citizens may believe that the American dream is slowly fading away, when in reality, it has never been more alive. The American dream is the ultimate goal of achieving top success in today’s world. Many Americans pursue this dream, though many feel hopeless in their journey towards victory. As the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson states, “America lives in the heart of every man—everyone who wishes to find a region where he will be free to work out his destiny as he chooses.” Any one person can accomplish something that they put their mind to and preserver in.
Authors such as Alice Walker and Richard Rodriguez both started from very unfortunate backgrounds, though they rose above their ancestors and set an example for many. Another man who sets a strong example for millions around the world is the United States current president, Barack Obama. As being the first African-American president and also a man who grew up in poverty, proves that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. In today’s world, education is the number one key to success. With out a strong educational background, it is almost impossible to make it in America. For many who live in poverty this may make achieving their goals feel seemingly impossible. Though it may be more difficult for someone living in poverty, it is no where close to impossible.
While growing up Rodriguez was ashamed of his parent’s lack of knowledge, he strived to become more intelligent then they were. Rodriguez writes in his essay The Achievement of Desire, “There may be some things about him that recall his beginnings—his shabby clothes; his persistent poverty; or his dark skin—but they only make clear how far he has moved from his past. He has used education to remake himself” (Rodriguez 576). He knew that the only way to become successful was to make sure he did his best in school. He began to consume him self in books and other sorts of knowledge at a very young age. Because of Rodriguez’s educational achievement, he earned a scholarship to Stanford University. This enabled him to reach his goal of higher education even though he grew up in poverty.
On the other hand, Walker discusses many African-Americans who set new standards for change in her essay In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens. Walker writes about how art helped the African-Americans along their long journey through hard times. She explains, “It is not so much what you sang, as that kept you alive, in so many of our ancestors, the notion of the song” (Walker 680). They had expressed themselves through song and poems, and Walker renders that otherwise they would have gone wild. Walker also expresses how many of the African-American’s were not able to be known for any of the incredible talents. She writes, “The agony of the lives of women who might have been Poets, Novelists, Essayists, and Short-Story Writers, who died with real gifts stifled within them” (Walker 678). If all the African-Americans had given up hope America would be missing out on incredible artists such as Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin.
Though many Americans may say that there is not hope for all, Barack Obama is living proof that any aspiration is reachable. America has come so far for many, especially for African-Americans. For people who were at one time where considered lower and not equal to others, America now has its first African-American president. This gives great hope for many that anything can be attained if you put your mind to it. Barack Obama was not raised in a very fortunate family, the article Meet Barack states that his own father was even a domestic servant to the British. Obama worked extremely hard to get where he is today. According to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, his educational career began first at Occidental College, then Colombia University, and finally Harvard University where he was the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Obama certainly did not just ease his way through presidency; he worked extremely hard to achieve what he has.
Woodrow Wilson’s quote is very true, any American is able to create his own destiny with a little bit of willpower and perseverance. There have been so many influential figures in the past and present to prove this, such as Barack Obama and Richard Rodriguez. It does not matter what race, wealth, or social status you are, every American is entitled to one’s own dreams. Though, it is up to yourself to determine how badly you want to achieve your goals and how much effort you are willing to place into it. The American dream is at everybody’s fingertips, it is up to you whether or not you grasp it.

Works Cited
"Obama, Barack." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 9 Nov 2008 .
"Meet the Candidate." Meet Barack. Obama for America. 9 Nov 2008 .