Latinos Redefining the American Dream


I love this time of the year! I welcome fresh starts, new beginnings, new dreams, and the exciting feeling of a brand new year. It’s like a blank book waiting to be filled out. You hold the pen in your hand and the future is at your disposal.

What would our lives be like without dreams to pursue, regardless whether it’s a new year or not? I’m thankful for all the dreams my parents had and the sacrifices they made embarking in a new country when I was very young. It’s their dreams and perseverance that got me to where I am today.

When my parents first arrived to the U.S., (at the beginning of a new year coincidentally), they aimed to fulfill the “American Dream.” For them (and most Latin American immigrants), the American Dream consisted of learning English, having a steady, long-term job, buying a big house and a car, saving money, and ensuring their kids were safe and able to obtain a quality education.  Fortunately, they were able to achieve all those dreams through hard work, determination and perseverance. The American Dream represented an opportunity, a promise full of possibilities, a dream pertaining to living in the U.S.  During that generation, many Latinos were forced to assimilate to obtain a piece of the American Dream.

Given today’s changing times, increased diversity, and technology advances, the American Dream has changed and Latinos are at the forefront of redefining the whole concept. With a Latino turning 18 every 30 seconds, we have real clout and an ability to influence trends. We are holding onto our heritage and embracing American culture while creating new takes on traditions and redefining what it means to be Hispanic-American in the U.S.

Success is no longer defined the same way it was a generation ago.  The new American Dream has more to do with finding one’s calling and becoming the best version of yourself, while contributing to society at large. Technology has made it easier to communicate, easier to learn new things, easier to stay up to date on things here and there, and so on. As a result, we are better able to manage our environment and shape the way we live life and pursue our dreams. While owning a home and having a steady job is nice, dreams are now more about living a purpose driven-life that is less about money, titles and/or home.  The new American Dream is grounded in themes of happiness, personal fulfillment, and helping others.

So even though times have changed the traditional American Dream, what is special is that Latinos are staying true to who they are while pushing themselves to their fullest potential. I’m in…are you?


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