The American Dream

by Hannah Havelka
Pfeiffer College
October 2009

exhausted.
my body aching,
my soul depleted.
exhausted.

daddy told me long ago
that if i work hard enough,
if i strive long enough,
if i dream big enough,
that i could do anything.

so i went to college.

counselor told me to build up a resume,
so i double majored,
i got all a's.
i filled my schedule with
curriculars, co-curriculars, extra-curriculars
until there wasn't a minute left.
over 10,000 moments
of classes
and clubs
and meetings
and service
and projects
and lessons
and work
and...
and...

and...exhausted.
body aching,
soul depleted.
exhausted.

all so i could get a job.

and get a job, i did.
three, in fact.

one to pay for a roof over my head.
one to pay for food on my table.
and one to pay for the transportation to get to the other two.

who has time to dream
when you're working 95 hours a week?

daddy told me long ago
that if i work hard enough,
strive long enough,
believe firmly enough,
that i could do anything.

exhausted.
body aching,
soul depleted.
exhausted.

is this the american dream?