Ugh, Americans

   
     Whatever circumstances life presents to us, we have to make do and figure things out. People view the American Dream as something that anyone can achieve, no matter what their circumstances. A poor person from a poor family can become wealthy, and that person is respected by our society. A person who is faced with limitations that would be unbearable for most to face, whether they be physical or situational, who overcomes those limitations, is regarded as the ideal American. Having had a lot of physical obstacles in my life (scoliosis, wearing a brace for 7 years, 2 fractured vertebra, 2 sprained ankles, a dilated aorta), I used to think that I deserved good things to happen to me. "Oh, I've had all these things happen to me, I deserve this, I deserve that, etc. etc." No, I don't deserve anything. Yes, these situations are unfortunate, but life sucks sometimes, and you have to make do. When Althen described how "Americans admire people who have overcome adverse circumstances... and 'succeeded' in life'' (7) I remembered how I related to people like these and had this odd idea that life just gave them their success I looked at those people and thought that because of our shared limitations and obstacles in life, good things would just happen to me, but that's not the case at all. They made good things happen, and the way that people looked at them as heroes, that they deserved their success, made me think that I did too, and that I would get it just because of my limitations. Once I realized that I needed to take the initiative and make good things happen for myself, my life changed for the better.
     In terms of equality, I always refer to my parents' friends as "Mr" or "Mrs", even though they always tell me to call them by their first names. I try to, but referring to them this way is a habit, something society has ingrained in me. I always try to respect my elders by doing this. Althen talks about how some people "get uncomfortable when someone treats them with obvious deference" (8). Now, their insistence that I don't call them "Mr." or "Mrs." makes sense. I don't try to use eloquent speech when I talk to them; I talk to them casually, as I would to my friends. So I see myself treating them as a superior, but also as an equal- I think you have to strike the right balance between showing the respect they deserve and being a fun person to talk to. One place I did not see equality, however, was high school. There were cliques that treated certain people disrespectfully. Most of us were all the same age, with the same number of years under our belts, yet, some people acted very aloof and acted very entitled. Which I found hilarious, as we were all high school kids trying to figure the world out, and learning along the way. But there were still those who thought they owned the world.
     Time is another aspect of being an American that is huge in my life. I spread out my homework so I don't get too burned out, do a little bit every day so I'm not cramming at the last minute. I also make time every day for my personal well-being. That involves going to the gym, listening to music, surfing the web, and hanging out with close friends. Socializing is also something I make time for. I lay out my plans for homework every day, write down what I'm going to do and how much, make some time for myself, and make sure I make time for those I care about. Using time to your advantage is very important. If you're not living a balanced life and planning at least a little bit, you'll fall over. Using time to your advantage is the best way to ensure you don't fall over.
     I also thought it was interesting when Althen talked about how Americans are viewed as assertive by some, but in reality, they're only assertive in certain situations. I see this in my life as well; based on who I'm talking to, I choose how I act, how I talk, and what I say. There is a time and a place to be assertive and pushy, but you can't be assertive and pushy too much. You can't be passive, as I used to be, but you can't be a jerk all the time. I definitely see this in my life.