"Breathing Dreams Like Air..."

How would you describe the American Dream?

I would describe the American Dream in multiple ways. It includes many things such as; freedom, opportunity for prosperity, protection by the government, and upward social mobility for those who work hard. The American Dream is a privilege that is not provided for everyone like it may appear. Some people do not have enough money to pay for education so they cannot obtain a job that will make them successful like others. In other instances, some mothers and fathers cannot afford to feed their children and resort to stealing which lands them in prison. Many people are disadvantaged in the United States and it is much harder to thrive than it appears.

What is your definition of wealth?

When I hear the world "wealth" I think of how much money someone has or how stable they are economically. However, there is much more to wealth. If someone does not have friends or family that love and care about them they are not very wealthy because they do not have much value in their life. Just because something costs a lot of money, that does not mean it has value. Friends and family who love you have true value.

What are Americans' attitude toward wealth and poverty?

I think a lot of Americans believe that there is unnecessary poverty in the country and that the government should take care of that by giving those people money whether they work for it or not. While I do agree that there is a lot of poverty in the country, I believe that there are ways that people with little or no money can work to earn money. It is unfair to give hard-earned government money to people who do not work for it. Although, there are certain cases where this is difficult because ill people cannot work. Therefore, I believe if you meet certain requirements, the government should cover your healthcare. It is difficult to determine these things especially when the outcome will never benefit everyone equally. Meanwhile, Americans also look at wealth as a number one priority. A lot of people are willing to do whatever it takes to make money and our lives are centered around our jobs and careers. In America, you cannot get a decent paying job without earning your graduate degree, at least. Also, depending on what you major in, your job might not pay very much. Americans might have a negative connotation of wealth because very famous people are extremely wealthy for no reason at all. For example, the Kardashians are very rich and they have no talent and don't do anything to earn that money or even to benefit society.

What is your attitude toward wealth and poverty?

I sometimes have conflicting views of wealth and poverty. Sometimes I think that when I get older I want to have a lot of money because that will make me the happiest if I'm financially stable because I won't have many financial problems. However, is it even worth it to be financially stable if I'm not happy and have a group of people who I love? Of course I would choose to have a happy life instead of an economically rich life. I also believe that there is way too much money out there in the hands of people who don't deserve it and should be put towards a better use. I am not sure how we would go about fixing this but it is definitely an issue. I believe that money is something that controls our lives and people become obsessed with having that newest thing or the best thing. If people spent their money on helping others and improving the world around them, wealth would not have such a negative connotation and poverty would not be as prevalent.