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American Dream
September 13, 2014
Knowing the story and past about someone you look up to because of the person that they
have become today is an extraordinary experience to live. He’s become someone very important
to me, I honestly can’t say there isn’t a day where he isn’t asking me questions about my day or
how I feel. He’s someone who will be there to support me no matter what. Now that I know what
his dreams were, I realize why he’s like that with me trying to fulfill all my needs to able to
become a successful person in the future.
The dream my uncle wanted to fulfill as a child in El Salvador was to continue to go to
school even though he knew that it wouldn’t be possible to keep doing that because of the social
hierarchy he was born in. This is a dream that every person worldwide has as a child, but sadly
only some are able to achieve their American Dream. Aside from the life he lived as a child was
very difficult since he had a large family and as the oldest had lots of responsibility. “I worked
as a newspaper boy to gain some money to be able to afford things for school as well as help my
family out.” He explained that during his time period living in poverty was very difficult
because war had struck in El Salvador between the two classes the rich and the poor.
My uncle left his education when he was forced to enter the military. As he scrunched his
nose as he described his experience, “I was forced at the age of 15 to join the military and
choose a side either become a soldier who would help support both sides or be shot on the spot if
I were to choose to become a Guerriero and fight for the side of the poor.”
After the war he became more conscious of what he wanted and not was his country
wanted for him. He explained to me with anticipation that he’d heard that “America was the
ideal place to restart my life.” He had heard that the United States had more opportunities based
on the way the economy worked, which was different since in El Salvador cities raged for the
fact that their economy income was drastic. Traveling over here he knew he’d be able to help his
family aside from not being able to be with them. With relief he finally said that the goals he had
for the future in this new country he was willing to explore and learn about. “ The fact that I
ended up getting married and became a U.S citizens is when I started to realize the drastic
changes occurring in my life.” he explained. Aside from not having the ideal dream he had
wished for as a child, he claims to be happy with the lifestyle he follows on a daily basis. He
represents the many people that today travel across borders to have a better future for their
families and themselves. He claims “I am still living the American Dream even though it has a
changed a bit, but I still help my family from here where there is no type of pressure, which is
the reason for why I traveled to this country.” The perspective he grew up with was “We don’t
form our lives ourselves .. Life gives us the moments we live in and we advance day by day into
becoming who we are destined to be”
As I interviewed him, there were really a lot of things that I didn’t know about him. Its
surprising to know how much of a person’s story can affect the way you think . American
Dreams can be wished for but its a matter of the person to make them real. People don’t have the
same opportunities many of us have here. Many people go through a lot just to achieve what they
set their minds to.
© Kari S., Mesa, AZ
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The life my uncle had to accomplish his dream even though he wasn't from this country. People should get the message that you have to work hard for your dreams as well as take risks and not take things for granted.