Adam Dean, 29
Lake Charles, La.
I was born in the United States, but I was raised in Australia. When I arrived back in this country at the age of 18, I had no money, no job and no SAT scores.
Over the next five years, I managed to get a good education funded partially by part-time jobs, and later by alternating studying with paid apprenticeships.
I graduated, but with barely enough money for the security deposit on my new apartment and $1,500 in credit card debt. At the time, it did not feel like I was living the American Dream at all.
I worked harder, saved money, planned a wedding, and now my wife and I have great opportunities. We bought our first house and last year we had a beautiful baby girl who has filled my life with even more love and happiness than I ever could have known.
We both fund our 401(k)'s and we don't put anything on a credit card that we can't pay off in at least a month or two.
After years of ups and downs and plenty of hard work and sleepless nights, I have gone from having nothing, to having everything I could ever want.
When I look back on it all, I cannot help but be absolutely convinced that the American Dream is very much alive and well. But it is a fragile thing. So many of us with good high-paying jobs are just one crisis, one layoff or illness away from seeing our American Dream fade.
NEXT: Dreaming of... making it in D.C.
