My California Dream

 Living in Orange County, I have been surrounded by the idea of the "California Dream" my whole life. During my childhood, my parents would tell me about their own experiences in moving to California. At this point, the dream that had been prevalent around me is that of my parents which had been filled with dreams of opportunities for the younger generation and themselves: a vast job market, a large university network, and a safe suburbia. Both of my parents came to California in the 1970s--one from chilly New York and the other from Japan--with the dream in mind. My Dad was drawn in by the environment--the promises of grand national parks and beaches, constant sunny weather, fresh air--that he couldn't find in Queens. Coming from a country that didn't have a vast amount of career choices for women, my Mom arrived in Fullerton, California with visions of a future filled with any opportunity she desired as long as she worked assiduously toward her goals.

Suburban neighborhood in Irvine, California

University of California logo

The "California Dream" transformed in my parents' conversations as I became older. The dream still held vast amount of promises, but I began to realize there were gaps and flaws that no realist could ignore. Deflation caused threats to the economy and job market, causing the cost of living in California to become more difficult. Filled with sunshine, California was not only just warm in the summer, but also became dry enough for large fires that consumed neighborhoods and filled the sky with thick, black ash. However, despite difficulties, each year there was still conversation about another year of sunshine, the best public university system, and places to visit. There continued to be talk about this "California Dream" which consisted of wondrous places, weather, and atmosphere which was prevalent nowhere else. The opportunity cost of living in Southern California was great enough that these flaws seemed minuscule in comparison to the luxuries provided in this state that my parents had failed to find in their own birthplaces.

With time and new generational views, the "California Dream" is constantly changing, and although it may not be the dream of the older generations, it continues to contain hope and opportunity for those willing to strive for it. The dream is relative for each person and what each person is searching for, and I continue to see California as a paradise that offers opportunities unlike anywhere else. Here in California, I can study a career in engineering with a pool of diverse people in pleasant weather. I have the opportunity to explore large multi-cultural city communities as well as to travel back to peaceful suburbia to relax. Although living in California poses challenges, I still find more pros than cons, making my "California Dream" come alive.