MY AMERIC

AN DREAM: B

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AND SOMEDAY

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NATIO

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HOW HAVE I GOTTEN TO THIS POINT?• Like many young American boys, I once had the dream of

becoming a professional baseball player. I was always a good player, but I was never great. After playing for one season on the high school team, I decided to focus my time and energy on golf . I decided that was where my talents were best served. It was safe to say that my dream of playing for the Cubs one day had finally fizzled out. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed. Rather, I was excited that I was giving myself an opportunity to reach my full potential in golf, and possibly giving myself a chance to play beyond the high school level. I haven’t yet given up on my hopes of becoming a professional golfer, but I’ve realized that it’s more something I love to do as a hobby. In the last year, my current dream has grown on me. Although it is somewhat standard, I currently envision myself as being a successful businessman who makes a good chunk of money, has a family, and maybe one day, I will get involved in the national political scene, maybe as a senator.

STEP ONE: GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTEND THE COLLEGE OF MY

CHOICE• Graduating from OPRF shouldn’t be too tough of a task,

however, getting into the college of my choice will not be easy. If I continue to get good grades, I should be able to get into the college of my choice. So far, the colleges on my list are Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and Wake Forest.

STEP TWO: GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND GET A JOB IN CORPORATE AMERICA• After graduating from college, I plan on getting a job in

corporate America. I’m not sure what I want to do specifically, and I’m not sure what company I want to work for. I figure that I need to get good grades in college if I want to go work for top notch companies. I’ll examine my opportunities more closely after college. Hopefully, I will be making good money.

STEP THREE: GET MY MBA AND WIND UP AT A JOB THAT PAYS WELL

• Based on what I know about the business world, I think that getting an MBA is the key to a very successful career. After working in the business world for a few years I plan on going back to school to get my MBA. I am not sure where I will go to get it. If I do go back to school and get my MBA, I will increase my odds of landing a lucrative job. Personally, I believe that having a high-paying job will be key in the extent to which I enjoy my career, and subsequently my personal life.

STEP FOUR: GET MARRIED, HAVE KIDS, WATCH THEM GROW UP, SETTLE DOWN IN A NICE HOME, BUY A VACATION HOME• I will not do all of these things at once, but rather over a

period of time. If I look back at my family life once my kids have left the house, and can honestly check all of these things off the list, then I will definitely be able to say that I was successful in achieving those things that I wanted most.

STEP FIVE: GET INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE AS A

CONGRESSMAN AND SEE WHERE THAT TAKES ME• I’ve been interested in politics since eighth grade. I

definitely see myself having a future in politics, hopefully as a member of the House of Representatives or as a senator. If I’m successful and well liked in one of those two positions, maybe I’ll set my sights on the white house. “Getting my foot in the door” will be the most difficult part of the entire process. It will take a lot of money and connections. I’ll probably have to start out at the local level and work my way up the ladder. Hopefully, I will reach my goal someday. If I have a successful career, I definitely think I will try to jump into politics at some point late in my career. Being successful in politics would mean a lot to me.

• I don’t really know what lies ahead for me, but I hope it includes some of the things I mentioned. That would mean a lot to me. If my future doesn’t hold any of the things that I mentioned, I’m sure I will still find my way, even if it isn’t

as easy as a five-step plan.

• “We believe that what matters most is not narrow appeals masquerading as values, but the shared values that show the true face of America; not narrow values that divide us,

but the shared values that unite us: family, faith, hard work, opportunity and responsibility for all, so that every child, every adult, every parent, every worker in America has an equal shot at living up to their God given potential. That is

the American dream and the American value.”- Senator John Kerry