To realize the American dream, the most important thing to

The words of Cristina Saralegui—“To realize the American dream, the most important thing to understand is that it belongs to everybody. It's a human dream. If you understand this and work very hard, it is possible.”—resound with the voice of one who has seen beyond borders, beyond divisions, beyond the narrow walls of privilege. They remind us that the American dream is not simply the treasure of one nation, but an inheritance of all humanity: the hope for freedom, the desire for dignity, the yearning to build a better tomorrow through one’s own labor. This dream, though clothed in the name of a land, is in truth the dream of every human heart.

When Saralegui says it “belongs to everybody,” she lifts it from the realm of exclusivity into universality. Too often has the dream been guarded like a fortress, as though it were the possession of a chosen few. But she reminds us that the promise of opportunity is not meant to be hoarded, but shared. To believe otherwise is to betray the very essence of the dream. For liberty, prosperity, and justice, if kept for some and denied to others, curdle into oppression. But when opened to all, they flourish and multiply, becoming light for many generations.

Her words echo the ancient wisdom that human longing transcends nations. Consider the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt, led by Moses. Their journey was not merely from one land to another, but from bondage to freedom, from despair to hope. This was their dream: to live in dignity, to labor and reap the fruits of their labor. Centuries later, when immigrants crossed oceans to reach America, they carried that same ancient hunger in their hearts. Saralegui rightly names it not as an American possession, but as a human dream, passed down from all who have ever sought a better life.

She warns, however, that dreams are not won by yearning alone. “If you understand this and work very hard, it is possible.” Here is the balance of hope and labor. Dreams without effort are illusions; effort without vision is toil without meaning. But when one weds vision to perseverance, impossible doors begin to open. The farmer knows this truth well: he does not reap in the same season he sows, but through sweat and patience, his harvest comes. Likewise, the dream requires sacrifice, resilience, and courage in the face of delay.

History gives us proof of this teaching. Think of the great waves of immigrants who arrived on American shores—Italians, Irish, Chinese, Cubans, Mexicans, Africans and more—many carrying nothing but hunger and hope. They were met with hardship, scorn, and discrimination, yet through relentless hard work, they built businesses, tilled the soil, forged communities, and gave their children opportunities they themselves had been denied. Though their names may not echo in history’s books, their lives testify that the dream is possible for all who labor steadfastly with hope.

The meaning of Saralegui’s words is therefore both noble and urgent: the dream must be understood as belonging to humanity, not a privileged class, not a single race, not a single people. To deny its universality is to choke its spirit. To embrace its universality is to ensure that it lives and thrives. Every person who works with courage, who refuses to surrender to despair, becomes part of the great unfolding of this dream.

For us, the lesson is clear: do not shrink the dream into something small or selfish. See it as your inheritance, but also as your responsibility. Work hard for yourself, yes, but also for others—for the stranger, the newcomer, the marginalized—so that all may walk the road toward dignity together. In doing so, you do not lose the dream, but make it stronger, purer, and truer.

The practical action is this: labor not only with your hands, but with your heart. Strive in your work, but also strive in compassion. Honor the sacrifices of those who came before you by refusing to hoard what they sought to build. Live with the conviction that the American dream is a human dream, and let your life be testimony that, with vision and perseverance, it is not only possible for yourself—but possible for all.

Thus let us pass this wisdom on: the dream belongs to every soul who dares to hope and to labor. Hold it not as treasure to guard, but as fire to share. For in its flame lies not the destiny of one land, but the destiny of humankind.