American+Dream

I saved this reflection for the end because it explains what I've gotten out of our study of American Lit this year. I've learned similar things to what I already knew, but the difference between past years, and this year, is that I've learned meanings of texts, personalities of characters, and that the history we all believed was behind us, never really left the picture. I've learned a lot about the American dream specifically and how much it means to many Americans. I've been noticing however, that this idea of the "dream" is being engraved into the minds of our generation as well, and standards and expectations are being set too early in life. Today, there exist problems concerning foreign policy, war, economic issues, race, and religious intolerance. These issues existed a century ago, and it's unfortunate that we have not been able to move past these injustices in America.