My American Dream Speech

    I did not record or made a video, but this is my American Dream speech. Originally I wanted to give my speech in person but I was not able to because of timing issues. This speech obtains my reason of living. This is the meaning to my life. My whole journey from where it started where I was born to where I am right now. I am very satisfied with my speech as a whole. I feel as it represents what my life is all about and where I get my motivation from. This topic is very special to me and it means the whole world to me because my American Dream wouldn't be without my parents sacrifice.

    The American Dream is very special to me. To me the American Dream is being able to have the opportunity to succeed in what I want to achieve and live happily with whatever I want to do in life but also repay my parents for what they have done for me and my brothers.
    My journey to achieve my American dream began  family and I immigrated to the United States in January 2004 in order for me and my brothers get better opportunities and make a better future for ourselves. These are opportunities I was unable to obtain in my place of origin, Guayaquil, Ecuador. My parents lived in Ecuador for more than 30 years so they had family and friends over there. My dad always tells me that over there we were never going to grow up in poverty because my dad's family has set up a foundation for the whole family that we would have support. However, one thing that he saw different in America was the opportunity for his children to experience a different lifestyle. My aunt told my father once about the many opportunities that are presented to students plus the education levels which are better in America. My father’s plan, since we were all born, was to travel to America so that we would not end up like the many children in Ecuador. The one other big reason why we came to the United States was that the education system is free rather in Ecuador in where we would have to pay since schools are private. My dad also wanted us to earn more money that we would have earned in Ecuador. Ecuador is not a place which is economically stable like the United States. My dad did not have to work as hard as my mom did since in his country he was rich. My mom came from the countryside where she lived with her family on a farm. She went to school with all her brothers and sisters but had to drop out at the middle of her high school year in order to help my grandparents with the farm and the products. Even though she doesn't really know as much as my father she wants for me and my brothers to not go through what she went through living in Ecuador.
    My parents sacrificed their comfortable and fulfilling life in order to let us live a better life. Life here in America is not so easy for them as it is for me and my brothers since, it is hard for them to learn English. Most of their lives was revolved Spanish. My parents do struggle here in the U.S. as of right now till this day, but i know that their struggle is worth. They know that the pain and heartache that they experience will be worth at the end of the day. They see success in me and brother since my   oldest brother is attending Cornell Universtiy, my older brother is attending Stony Brooke University and soon I will too .They are living their American Dream through me and my brothers’ success. My parents may struggle but I know that through it all they do not regret it one bit at all. Truly their dream now is to see me and brothers succeed before their times comes to leave.
    I have lived in the Unites States for about 12 years now and there are so many different opportunities that I have seen and have taken a part of. Like for instance right now I am part of this program called Sponsors for Educational opportunity Scholars( SEO Scholars)  which allows me to gain assistance in areas that I am struggling in like for instance writing and grammar. This program also allows me to get assistance for when I get to college and they provide me with different enrichment programs for during the summer. For instance, last summer I was able to go to SUNY-ESF to do some science studies for nature in Syracuse. I would have not been able to experience the college dorming life and the college food life without the help of SEO. Of course one of the biggest opportunities is the free education system. This opportunity has let me discovery Peer Group Connection(PGC) which allows me to work with incoming freshman and help them with their transition from middle school to high school. It also allows me to practice and develop leadership skills. I have gained confidence in myself through PGC.  Throught these different opportunities I have been able to obtain knowledge that will help me in school and I have been able to find who I am as a person. These opportunities are helping me achieve my American Dream. The American Dream to me is not a dream but a reality that I can achieve through my hardwork.