Essay about The American Dream John F. Kenedy - 2184 Words

The American Dream John F. Kennedy Everyone has his or her own definition of what â€Å"The American Dream† is and what is means. Some, however, may believe this dream is in reality, a cultural nightmare. This â€Å"dream† was first created as a set of ideals and ethics that would be promised to all citizens in America. James Truslow Adams first used this notion in the novel, The Epic America. He writes: The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of†¦show more content†¦His brothers Robert Francis â€Å"Bobby† Kennedy and Edward Moore â€Å"Ted† Kennedy also were in politics and served as senators while his sister, Jean Ann Kennedy, served as a United States Ambassador to Ireland. His othe r siblings included, Joseph Patrick â€Å"Joe† Kennedy, Jr., who fought in WWII, and his other sisters, Rose Mary â€Å"Rosemary† Kennedy, Kathleen Agnes â€Å"Kick† Kennedy, Eunice Mary Kennedy, and Patricia Helen â€Å"Pat† Kennedy (JFK, n.d.). Over the years, Kennedy attended many private schools throughout the Northeast. For his high school year, John F. Kennedy attended the prestigious boarding school of Choate in Wallingford, Connecticut. John, living in his football star and scholar of a brother’s shadow, showed a more rebellious and defiant side by misbehaving and executing notorious pranks. During this time he also experienced health problems that were later diagnosed as colitis. Kennedy graduated high school in June 1935 and was named â€Å"Most Likely To Succeed† (SparkNotes Editors, 2005). After battling with hospitalization and recovery for a year, Kennedy enrolled at Harvard College in 1936. His experience at Harvard was much l ike his former experience at Choate. Kennedy was always in the shadow of his older â€Å"more intelligent and driven† brother, Joe (SparkNotes Editors, 2005). John’s grades weren’t always the best and he seemed to focus more on sports and his social life rather that academics. He was