My American Dream

I was born in China. I had an American Dream in my mind when I was little girl, and it was from a TV show called Ellis Island. In the show, immigrates　in the big ship had a hard and long travel in ocean to go to America; at last, the immigrates　saw Liberty goddess appeared above New York. Some people cried reading the word written on the base of the statue: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearing to breathe free." I never forget their　expression and their tears on　their face at that time. I always wondered why they felt they are at home when they get to America. From then on I had my America Dream in my mind, and I wanted to go to America, or I want to see my America Dream by myself.　My father encouraged me; he often told me," America has the best institution　in the world, they elected their own present."

Now I have been in America for 8 years, and I know a lot of Chinese immigrants here because I worked for them. Mrs.Chen's family is a typical middle-class in USA. They are　from the most famous university in China; now they are both PHDs in the USA. They are living in a nice big house. Their incoming is more than hundred thousand dollars a year. Every month they spend more than thousand dollars on food. Every year they have two vacations’　abroad.　 I worked as a nanny for them at that time. I cooked four dishes and one soup every night. I packaged fruit for the kids’ school lunch every day. I wonder if　their life　is an America Dream, for it is a beautiful America Dream to me.

Mrs. Chen told me they still had hard time when they were students in the USA. They drove an old trunk, no air condition, and they only spent two hundred dollars for food every month. They had nothing at that time, no money, no job, and no green card. But after they both found jobs in the USA; then, everything is changed.

I was a nanny, but I never forget my America Dream in my mind. In a back yard sale, I sold　old cloth quickly,　for they are cheap enough—only ten cents　for one　shirt or a pair of pants. I got fifty dollars after I standing in the cold outside, a whole day at the　sale, no food, no juice.　

What　does America Dream mean to　me now? It　means enough food for my two sons. It means they can have college education. It means we have break and rest from the hard work　to reach these goals.　It means happiness as a family.

Why did so many millions uproot themselves from the old world to face the hardships of life in America? It is not easy; perhaps it is more difficult than before. At least it is more difficult for me, for I am an interpreter in China, and I never worried about money. I never sold back yard sale before, because I needn’t do that. But here I have start everything from zero, I have to try to get money to do any job, for I have no choice. When I think about why these immigrates so love America in the TV show in Ellis Island, Mrs. Chen’s family give me the answer. They came to America because they believe they can find equal quantity here. In America, people don't care about their native country,　their skin color, or their religious, and they care about what　they do, or　if they are　honest.　People don't care their　English is not so perfect,　and people　care about　what they say. The immigrates arriving at Ellis Island hoped, believed, and prayed they would find a better life in the United States.

America Dream is a course full of step. Being a millionaire, being a star, being a present and living in a big house is America Dream, but being a poor student, wearing 10 cents shirt is American Dream, too. They can’t be separated, for they are different parts for one whole body. You can’t get on the second stair without first one. I am proud of being a good nanny,　but I never lose the confidence in my mind for myself. I can do more than a nanny after I receive the training for the skill. I have confidence and quantity, but I still need to prove myself.

Then, I quit the job, signed on the loan paper and　sat　in Mccann school's classroom---a community college. Now I am on the　way to my　goal.　I love the motto in Mccann , "Changing　futures, changing　lives."　　Present Obama said; "America needs change." I need change, too.　

Changing means become better. Changing means adding something new skill on old one. Changing is not easy; it is challenge to anyone. America Dream belongs to the person who has the willing and ability to　change him.

I sometimes had two times of dinners at school because of the late night class, I sometimes have morning class at 8AM in the morning. Sometimes my husband dropped me at school first; then, he will drive my son to his school. Sometimes my husband has to pick me up at midnight after my night class after an exhausting day. We have to move the sleeping kids to bed after we get home. Every morning before I go to school, I always try to comfort my son, "Mom have to go to school, for I will have a job and buy you cookie." My son loves cookie so much, but he cried to me, "I don’t want cookie, I want Mom!" Leaving from a crying baby is not easy to me, but this is what I supposed to do and I will do it. I believe my son will affect by this when he grown up, he will work hard for his dream, too. I want to be good sample for him, and I’ll teach my son by my action, not by my words. Being a medical assistant, is only a job for anybody, but is beautiful America Dream for me. It is so important to me that I will do anything for it. It is a little dream for me, but it is a strong foundation for a family, and it is a foundation for my son’s future. It will bright up his future to let him have more bigger, more beautiful dream.

My America Dream is like the fire torch of Liberty goddess in the New York. It gives me power, direction, warm, and bright up my future.