America prides itself on having what no other country can offer, the American dream. The United States offers everyone the freedom to make a name for themselves and become an entrepreneur in their chosen industry. This makes it easy for immigrants to come from other countries and have a chance to succeed in life. Every American wants to be the top executive of a successful business to earn millions of dollars; However, achieving this goal becomes extremely difficult when you discover the major challenges that every CEO must overcome. Aside from trying to become a successful entrepreneur, the American dream is also about gaining an education. Completing your studies in the 21st century means having a bachelor's degree in a specialty. Starting college as soon as you graduate from high school is a great way to start your life and is a first step toward financial security. High school is a great tool to help prepare someone for higher education. As a former high school student, I now realize that I had all the tools to succeed in college, but I couldn't let go of the social aspect of school and focus on my studies. Many American high schools struggle to graduate from high school and this is one of the major problems related to the inability to succeed. Most high school students don't realize what teachers are trying to do for them and simply ignore their teachings and advice. In California, 68.3% of high school students graduated in 2007 (“California Department of”). Obviously, the chances of success for these students who did not graduate are low. Because of this high dropout rate, it puts incredible stress on the remaining 31.7% of young adults who are now... middle of paper ...... his bachelor's degree earned over twenty-five a thousand dollars more than those with only a high school diploma. While the American Dream continues to drive many Americans to pursue their goals, we must first take steps to achieve those goals with the help of a solid education. Four-year colleges are proven to provide a solid education to all who attend them, but the financial costs can stupefy someone in their tracks and make them believe that achieving their goals is impossible. But the reward for investing in college pays a person back later in life. I have learned so much from attending college and can honestly appreciate what I am paying for. Like other students, I find that college is a gateway to success in America. I believe that anyone has the opportunity to go to college, earn a four-year degree, and later live the American dream..