Like a Glass of Water

So I wrote this for English class and I kinda like it. It's pretty long (Three pages according to Microsoft Word Processor) so you can skip unless you're really interested.


Attempting to define the American Experience is like trying to separate a single drop of water from a glass. Technically it’s possible, but it would require much work and everyone’s answer, or drop, will be different from the next person. Basically, the American Experience is different for everyone who tries to define it. Some definitions may be different from others, but all seem to have sometime in common; happiness.
The Founding Fathers of America wrote in the Declaration of Independence that all men have the unalienable right to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. As such, the American experience is each person’s personal Pursuit of Happiness.
This observation, however, only brings up another question on what defines the Pursuit of Happiness. This is similar to defining the American Experience in that it’s difficult to define, as each person is different. Happiness can come from money, friendship, love or anything else. Depending on that person’s beliefs, literally anything could count as their Pursuit of Happiness.
Imagine a hypothetical family, four generations of American Experiences each with their own goals and ambitions. There is a young man who struggled with poverty his entire childhood. His American Experience could be to simply live a more comfortable life. As such he works hard, does well in school and finally after a life of great successes and tragic falls lives that comfortable live he dreamt of as a boy. He moves to a calm suburb and lives raises a family. That is the American Experience.
Walker Two
Then his son, who grew up in the calm suburbs may want to achieve something more. He strives to continue the family’s record of success. He sets his eye on a target and goes for it. He looks to his father for advice and inspiration, then puts his plan into motion. He follows his father’s footsteps, does well in school, works hard, but this time he gets lucky. He makes a huge break and suddenly is very wealthy. He builds a large house, and has a family living in the wake of his riches. This is the American Experience
However this third generation, does not share the same aptitude for work as the her ancestors. She has lived in luxury her entire life, why should she go through the same work as her father and grandfather when her status wouldn’t change? As such, she skated through life on her father’s fortune and soon inherited the dynasty. She married into a family of similar status, thereby doubling her fortune. This too, is the American Experience.
The last example ends the bloodline. The fourth generation comes, and this time uses the fortune gathered by the last two generations to help people. This daughter decides to change the world, she devotes her life to both politics and to philanthropy. She travels the world donating money to charities, building houses, wells, and other necessities for life. Here in America, she slowly climbs the political ranks, starting as Mayor of a small town, moving onto Governor, Senator and eventually rising to be President of the United State of America. However, in all the strain of her hectic life style she never bore children, not from medical deficiencies, but of the busy life style. She never had the chance to continue the bloodline, and it dies with her. This, truly is the American Experience.

That isn’t to say, however, that these are the limits of the American Experience. These are simply arbitrary examples, four drops out of the entire glass. These are American Success Stories, but that is by no means the only kind Experience that occur. America is built by so called “failures” as well as success. Americans must feel failure to accomplish the success. Thomas Edison once said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” (1847-1931). This can be applied to anything, especially the American Experience. If the Articles of Confederation hadn’t “failed” Americans would not have gained the American Constitution, and the country might not have grown to the power that it is today.

If the first generation hadn’t failed a test or two in school, how would he have learned and gotten it better the next time? If the second generation’s original ideas hadn’t failed, maybe he wouldn’t have grown to have the fortune he did. The fourth generation must have lost at least one of her many elections the first time. Everyone learns from their mistakes and they grow from them. This is the American Experience.