Proposal

I live in the neighborhood of Belmont Cragin and after researching the neighborhood's details I was able to see some basic demographics. For racial demographics, the neighborhood is mostly composed of Hispanics and whites. There are more house owners than renters. There are also more female residents than male and the total population is 77,557 people. For my project I am going to interview two neighbors and one family member. The racial backgrounds of the two neighbors are Mexican and white. The man who is Mexican is Manuel. He has lived here for over 10 years and works in the school across the street. The woman who is white is not in the neighborhood as much as Manuel is, since her job is in the suburbs  She usually leaves around 8 and doesn't get home until 9 from Monday to Friday. As for my relative i will be interviewing my sister who has lived in this neighborhood for about 8 years but has recently moved to the same block I live on. I think the american dream in this neighborhood is going to be not about the hard work but the reason for their hard work, their family. I think the american dream for my interviewees will be living happily with their family and doing what they can for the best of their children. For Manuel, he works where his grandchildren go to school and where one of his daughters attended school. For my other neighbor even though she isn't as much with her family, she works hard to make sure they are never in need of something they don't have. I think the constant idea that will continue in the american dream of Belmont Cragin is family and doing what they can to give the best to their children and family.

American Dream

From homeless shelter to elite science fair

“It will be an adventure to my next adventure,” Lane Gunderman states as he is about to aboard an airplane for the first time. Lane Gunderman was born into poverty and his family was able to scrape by until 2006 when they lost their apartment. After staying at a relative’s house and a divorce between the parents, the father abandoned them leaving them to stay at homeless shelters for over a year. Lane went to a public school in which he excelled and got admitted with a full scholarship into U of C Lab High School where he was accepted in the Summer Link Science Research Program. He came up with a project, created a computer stimulation with an in depth analysis and submitted it to Intel. Out of 1,700 applicants he was able to make the 40 finalists in which he will go to Washington DC to compete and possibly win 100,000 dollars. He is living the dream, the “American dream” some may say. What really is the American dream? I believe it’s expressed as a form of success. It suggests that anyone can conquer in life what they want as long as they work hard and stay committed. Many have expanded and redefined the idea with money, freedom, and fulfillment. Others say the concept is an idealistic goal that can’t be completely achieved due to society. The American dream is prosperity, in which ever way you may see it. This article relates to the American dream by not being affected by his past. Despite his poverty and struggle, he stayed dedicated to what he loved. His American dream was to improve upon the past by his desire to live a better life, even after not having a secure place to spend the night. Everyone has different point of views on success. The American dream is not a white picket fence, but it revolves around it. Do you walk past the fence and look for opportunities as your success dream, or do you stay in and define your success dream as being average, having a family, avoiding poverty and loneliness. Lane decided there was more out there, and his dream, or success story is achieved by working hard no matter the obstacles that come in his way. The American dream isn’t defined by wealth but it’s changing into expectations and owning things, when in reality it is your ambition, and hard work leading to a better life in which you desire to pursue happiness. The American dream isn’t defined by gadgets, it’s defined by one.

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