I-Search Essay: The American Dream

Daniel Nguyen
Mrs. Grossman
English 11
Period 2
9 December 2014
I-Search Essay
America is known around the world as a place of equal opportunity, where anyone who works hard enough can rise to a position of high status. Where even the poor and the homeless can come to raise their social position in society. Where anyone can succeed, without regard to skin color, class, or gender. This has lead many immigrants and refugees to flee to America in search of a better life for them and their children. While this “American Dream” sounds nice and dandy, this is not always how it is. In order achieve this “American Dream” today, earning a college degree is a must, and a degree from a prosperous school is even better.
Now if this was a perfect world, …show more content…
If they get in they get in. If we were to admit people who couldn’t cut it the faculty would not be happy with us. It does a disservice to both the student and the program. At Stanford we do not have quotas and admit the top students. ”
She says that if a student was to receive admission into a university based on their gender, or race they will definitely fall behind in the course work. I remember thinking to myself at the time, “Affirmative action really doesn’t help anyone.” I then asked her about different scenarios she may have seen in her professional career.
I asked her the question, “Have you ever seen affirmative action in the workplace, involving someone getting a certain promotion or position in the office based on appearance rather than merit?”
She paused before she answered this question, and was probably trying to think back to a certain incident or event. Her answer was “ There is still a bias, for example females in business school. Males believe that females are taking up spots, and are going to waste their educations by having to stay home and raise babies. So they may be discriminated against in that manner. It is not always a racial discrimination, but often a one about gender. What confuses me is that many pay attention to the race and gender side of it, but not many question the legacy or children of …show more content…
I think that creates a very specific learning environment. Me personally, I wouldn’t want to go to Santa Clara. I feel like there needs to be more representation of minorities in order to create a full learning environment.” (Santa Clara University openly practices Affirmative Action)
I also mentioned the UC system, a system of universities that do not practice affirmative action, and how most of their campuses are experiencing an increase in Asian students.
She adds, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and is curious to see how that plays out in the future.”
After my last question, I breathe a sigh of relief, and thank her for her time. She acknowledges me, and tells me “Don’t hesitate to contact me for further questions,” I thank her again, and proceed to gather my things.
In conclusion, I believe that Affirmative Action is unneeded and outdated. It promotes some students to underachieve their way into colleges. It also makes it more difficult for the achievements of those who actually are qualified for the position that they are in to be

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