After high school, he attended St. Olaf, a small university in Minnesota. Gatz intended to pay for his education through janitorial work. After two weeks, he quit, drifting back to Lake Superior. For the next year, Gatz wandered up and down the shore as a clam digger, a salmon fisher, or anything else that would bring him food and bed. In his mind, Gatz would imagine his future as Jay Gatsby, an enormously wealthy, successful man. His American Dream was to become Jay Gatsby.
One afternoon, Gatz witnessed Dan Cody anchor his yacht in Lake Superior. Gatz rented a row boat and pulled out to Tuolomee, Cody's yacht. He gave the name of Gatsby and informed Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour. To Gatz, the yacht represented his American Dream. The yacht symbolized all of the beauty and glamor in the world. At this point, Jimmy Gatz ceased to exist and Jay Gatsby took his place. Cody asked him a few questions and found Gatsby to be quick and extraordinarily ambitious. A few days later when the Tuolomee departed for the West Indies and the Barbary Coast, Gatsby left with her. Gatsby was under Cody's employment for five years. Once Gatsby tasted riches, there was no going back. He knew that someday, he must obtain wealth as well. This backed up what was already manifesting as his American Dream. .
Gatsby later became a soldier in World War I. While stationed in Louisville, Kentucky, he met a young, popular woman by the name of Daisy. Daisy was the most sought after young woman in the city. He immediately fell for her and felt that he must have her for his dream to be complete. Amazingly, she seemed to like him as well. The only drawback was his financial situation. She refused to marry him without the comfort of wealth. Gatsby decided to strive harder for his American Dream. His dream was to become, of course, exceedingly wealthy and popular, but now it held one more thing, a trophy wife, more specifically, Daisy.
