Every single human-being wishes to thrive in some ways: getting richer, becoming famous, building a family, or getting closer to God. In various parts of the world, this aspiration is commonly referred as success. In America, success is embodied in a very broad concept known as the ‘American dream.’ Even though its exact definition can be ambiguous, it seems to be understood as an achievement. I would define the American dream as expressing one’s beliefs and opinions freely, getting well educated, undertaking an adequate occupation, earning a good income, accumulating wealth to live decently while enjoying few luxuries, and building a family; in other words, the American dream consists in living a lifestyle that fit American standards of success. …show more content…
The term good education can seem ambiguous, but in American standards, it simply means obtaining a college degree. Cal Thomas, a widely syndicated op-ed columnist, stated in his article “Is the ‘American dream’ over?” that “the rules are known to previous generations: studying and staying in school; achieving at least an undergraduate degree” (Thomas). To put it simply, a college degree has been one of the key to initiate success for a long time. A college education gives the tools to become a competent American citizen and achieve better standards of living than the people who ended their education after graduating from high school. It has become a norm that those who went further in their studies benefit of more opportunities, hence have greater chances to complete the American Dream. Most of today high-paying jobs require a college degree. A good education contributes, therefore, in getting closer to this ideal …show more content…
Today’s Americans define the American dream differently from their predecessor. Contemporary writers such as Marianne Cooper, a sociologist at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University, believe that the American dream expectations have been downgraded. In her article, “The Downsizing of the American Dream,” she argued that “people are downsizing their definition of the American dream. Today, the desire to own a home or to move up economically is often replaced by a desire to be debt free and to have financial stability” (Cooper). Otherwise stated, Americans aspirations of accomplishing a better life has been replaced by maintaining their current position at all cost. They are more concerned about holding on what they already possess rather than getting more. Americans’ mind-sets have evolved to adapt to their current realities: the cost of living has increased since the past decade. Most of those Americans are still traumatized by the Great Recession, a period in which many people lost their job. Americans may have shifted priorities, nonetheless their motivation to firmly hold on their current wealth come from their deep desire to live comfortably. This aspiration toward a comfortable life is a core foundation of the American
When college attainment improves, the tax base increases, reliance on social welfare programs declines, and civic and political engagement increases” (White). Even though it may seem obvious, in most cases it truly is very important to have a degree to be able to become successful. Despite some arguing against this, it comes down to the basics. A degree from higher education automatically gives that person an advantage in life. Whether it helps with job applications, housing, or just relief from worrying about money, an education is not just beneficial but becoming almost a necessity.
In the article, “Should Everyone Go to College,” authors, Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill’s, published by the Brookings Institution, discusses the benefits of a college education. The article begins by mentioning the arguments related to the requirement of having a college degree while entering the middle class in the United States. Having a college degree reminds people that higher education is the best advancement humans can make to allow them to make more money in their lifetimes, rather than if they just had a high school education. A fact that does not get much attention is not all college graduates, or college degrees, are equal. Even though Owen and Sawhill focus, in general, alternative career paths may result in equally lucrative
Since the beginning of time in the United States, the idea of the American Dream has had a heavy influence on society. According to Document C, American Dream is defined as earning enough money to be happy, obtaining a worry-free lifestyle, and running in a high social circle. While working Americans still hold on to the hope of the American Dream, individuals from other countries often move to the United States with the hope that they too may have a piece of the pie. Despite the novelty and allure of the American Dream, it is nothing more than false hope.
In recent years, the economy and job outlook has become super competitive throughout the States. With so many people seeking and applying for the same job, employers can only afford to hire a very small amount of people. As a result, they choose the best qualified applicant, which most likely means the applicant with the highest education. With competition increasing exponentially, it is becoming more and more difficult to find, let alone keep a job. That is why college is a necessity in today’s society.
Freedom, equality, happiness, family, mobility, opportunity, education, diversity. This is the American Dream. The American Dream represents the lifelong goal that one works towards and dreams about throughout his/her whole life. Some believe that this American Dream, appealing though it seems, is not accessible to everyone. However, this is not true.
The Failure of the American Dream in the Context of The Great Gatsby Sun Seo Jeon 전순서 20140880 The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, which is a belief that anyone, regardless of their social class and the situation they are born into, is given opportunities to achieve their own version of success. It is emphasized that American dream is achieved through sacrifice and hard work, not just by chance. This meant to motivate Americans to attain prosperity and happiness. However, there is an ironic interplay between idealism and materialism in this statement of American Dream; the dream suggests hope, opportunity and equality, but in reality, it is to become rich and of higher social status, which is only
Those citizens have the mindset that the American Dream just is not possible in modern society. Is the American Dream Still Possible by David Wallechinsky addresses multiple view points from different Americans who don’t think the dream is accessible any longer. The excerpt states, “ But many average Americans are struggling- squeezed by rising costs, declining wages, credit-card debt and diminished benefits, with little left over to save for retirement” (55). Wallechinsky is correct in his statement that many Americans struggle. Most Americans come across problems that could potentially destroy their American Dream but the ones who succeed are the ones who don’t lose hope.
Throughout the years the meaning of what the American Dream is has been changed and modified through their personal beliefs and goals in life. Rethinking the American Dream, an essay by David Kamp provides a perfect
Living where we live, you begin to comprehend that living off of $11.00 per hour including with your family will never suffice your needs. Getting a college degree can ensure the graduate a higher chance of being able to earn more financially. In the article “Why College Isn't And Shouldn't Have to be For Everyone” by Robert Reich, he states that “A degree from a prestigious university can open doors to elite business schools and law schools-and to jobs paying hundreds of thousands, if not millions. ”Even though Reich’s article is on the opposing side of the argument, he fails to overlook the fact that in the long run having a college degree will, and can open doors to many new opportunities. One of those opportunities is to be able get a well paying job that can earn more than the average non college graduate.
To most achieving the American Dream is obtaining success and economic stability. To some obtaining the American Dream is making more money than their parents. According to David Leonhardts’ article “The American Dream, Quantified at Last”, New York Times (8 Dec. 2016) provides statistics that show 50 to 60 years ago an individual was able to drastically exceed the amount of money their parents earned. Thanks to rapid, widely shared
Annotated Bibliography Cohen, M. (2014, April 26). The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream. The Guardian, p. 00. “The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream” by Michael Cohen explains the perception of Americans towards the decline of the middle class. The article details how the middle class was viewed before the elections of President Obama, and how it’s viewed after the creation of the Affordable Care Act.
No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important
Most people believe that the American dream is making six plus figures, living in a mansion, driving a Corvette, but actually it is just being happy with their own life. Everyone wants a dream where they are happy, because any other dream would be a nightmare. Being happy is also another way to succeed in life, so if anyone thinks the American dream is being successful then be happy, and then they have the American dream. The American dream will always tie in with happiness. If the people are not happy then they do not have the American dream.
It is easy to think college is not worth the cost to become better, but getting educated makes people better, and happier in the future and sometimes even in better health (Leonhardt 25 ). Becoming a better and happier person is good for everyone. Even former President Obama says “‘Education helps us be better people. It helps us be better citizens. You came to college to learn about the world and to engage with new ideas and to discover the things you 're passionate about -- and maybe have a little fun’”
The American Dream begins with an affordable living arrangement and a good job, but with remorse, these two pieces are not connecting (Thompson, 2014). A college graduate can expect expensive housing with a job not reflective of the high housing price. In an article published in The Atlantic, “Why it’s So Hard for Millennials to Find a Place to Live and Work” Derek Thompson talks about the inequality between upward mobility and the housing market. For example, Dayton has one of the most affordable housing markets in the United States, however unlike California there is no social mobility (Thompson, 2014). The American dream is different for everyone and changes the course of action an individual may take.