The American Dream means more than success. It means having people to celebrate with.

LOGAN — I have always been afraid to get my writing out into the world. People can be judgemental, hateful, rude, and cruel. People could hate my writing. People might tell me my passions are not worth it.

But there are also kind, supportive people in the world to help build me up to where I want to be — and I found them in Logan. And I believe this kind of community that I thought was only possible in a TV show can help me live out my American dream. Both to be a writer, but also to be surrounded by the type of people who believe in each other.

The past year has been really hard on me, and I started writing about it because I thought about how alone I felt and I wanted to raise awareness for mental health. I want to write to help other people in the world. In the past year I started reading and listening to poetry and reading books about girls who struggled alone. Each version of literature helped me feel less alone and made me feel I belong.

I felt like I should be a part of creating that same feeling and form of art — I wanted to make other people feel like they had a place they belong. Writing brings a unique sense of peace I cannot find anywhere else and it helps me spill my thoughts onto paper. I can turn experiences and my creative ideas into real stories for other people. I can bring things to life that have been stuck in my head for so long. I also realized it helped me process a lot of the things I have been through, writing them out and getting into deeper feelings and details. It made things flow easier, and I’m hoping it can do the same for someone else.

The first person I told about the book I am writing was my boyfriend, then my friend, then another and so on. Every single person I told supported me. They still ask me about how it’s going or how much I have left of my book. They read written chapters for me and give me healthy feedback. I’ve gained so much strength and belief in myself from the other people who have helped and supported me. Every person on my journey has shown up for me regardless of how far I’ve come or what I’ve done for them, everyone builds me up to where I need to be, and I would not be where I am right now without them.

It doesn’t have to be big things either. The small things are overlooked. I can walk into a coffee shop and they remember my order and ask if I want it the same way I got it last time. It’s a reminder that being remembered and cared about can bring comfort. It’s like the kind of communities you see in TV shows, and I didn’t think that was real until I moved here.

I used to live in a different part of Utah, somewhere where people didn’t care about letting you know you are remembered and where you are left out. In school no one could find a place they felt they truly belonged because of the environment the people would bring to the city. Logan, and Cache Valley in general, is such a sweet, tight community. The coffee shop barista might seem small to you, but the small things are what matter the most to me. It made me feel comfortable here and how am I supposed to get my writing out if I don’t start somewhere I am comfortable?

The meaning of “The American dream” that most people hear of is the chance to achieve what you want with equal opportunity and being able to build up to success. What if the American Dream could be something else? To me the real dream is what exactly builds you up to that. Everyone is so focused on the after, no one looks at the before and who brought you there.

Not everyone can have their dream job or great success, but creating a good supportive community is possible for everyone. Without my friends, family, and the comfort of the people around me, even the ones I’m not close with, I wouldn’t have been able to do this.

Without the help of any of the amazing people in Logan I don’t think I could reach the level of success I have. With everyone’s support I’ve been able to push myself to my greatest potential and work harder than I would have been able to without them. I have people showing up for me every word I write or every one I erase. People are there to catch me when I fall and pick me back up.

What would be the point of succeeding if there is no one to hug you when you do, or congratulate you or celebrate what you worked so hard for? The people who build your foundation for you are the ones who will build your confidence the whole journey and who will be there after.

Community is the biggest part of the American dream. I’m hoping now it will be less overlooked.

Note to readers • This contest was produced by The Salt Lake Tribune, Spy Hop and Amplify Utah. It was supported through a grant from the American Journalism Project.