Achieving the American Dream has been the ideal for people living in the United States for decades. People believed that the way to get there was through hard work, also known as the “Protestant work ethic”. The American Dream can vary depending on the person. Some people think that owning a house with a white picket-fence is the American Dream while others think that it is becoming a celebrity with a lot of money. For the purpose of this paper, the American Dream will be defined as the idea that you can achieve financial stability through hard work, which often means going to college. The term “college” refers to any undergraduate or graduate program at a secondary institution. This paper aims to examine the relationship between …show more content…
“Misconception No.1: A liberal arts education is a luxury that most families can no longer afford. ‘Career-education’ is what we must now focus on.” (Ungar, 2010, pp.191) As Ungar has claimed, there is a recent misconception that a liberal arts education is no longer a necessity but luxury because it doesn’t provide an instant career launching education. With so many people having to a need to spend as little money as possible, they are determined to only spend money on preparation for their future career. For this reason they go to college only to take courses that are necessary for their future. “She is in college to take vocational training. She wants to write computer code. Start a business. Get a job in television. She uses college to take vocational courses that pertain to her career interest.” (Murray, 2008, pp.228) Murray explained the story of a girl who is in college solely for preparation for her career. Because of this, she isn’t interested in a liberal arts education. If the course doesn’t directly pertain to her desired career, she prefers not to take it. College has always been used as a means to an end, with that end being their American Dream. Through college, they would gain knowledge that could help them achieve that dream. Over the recent years, with the economic troubles, people have shifted from the idea of
The truth of the American Dream is the quintessence of most all American symbols, and accomplishing the American Dream is the quintessential desire of both American and settler alike. Some would say the American Dream involves just about having the ability to buy and own a home, yet it is a lot more than that! The American Dream is truly so named because of the open door, which apparently exist just here in America, for a yearning individual to have the capacity to be a remarkable accomplishment through his or her own particular diligent work and determination. Individuals endeavor to accomplish their own particular dream. A few individuals, effectively here in
The American Dream is one of those terms that people refer to when talking about immigration, financial status, and so much more. But what does the term really refer to? People used to think of the American Dream as financial prosperity, religious and financial freedom, and all around success. Now, the term may mean something similar, but people are much less focused on it. If anything, the American Dream today is focused on gaining material goods and proving your bank account is larger than your neighbors. With today’s economy, laws and regulations, immigration customs, and overall attitude towards work, people are seldom focused on achieving the American Dream.
The American dream is achieved by hard work. An example of the American dream are college students who are working hard so that one day they can have their own money, and a home. The American Dream means to have a decent life, and to have decent money. Although, some people may believe that the government has too much control over our daily lives, the American Dream may not be accessible.
The American dream is something that has been around for decades. Every person has a different vision about the American dream. Some would like a moderate life, while others want all the riches of life. Now some will ask “What is the American dream?”. The American dream is defined by the individual, although some may have influences by their religion, ethnic diversity, and ancestors.
The American Dream can be defined as the idea that every US citizen should have equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and determination. Everyone in America should have equal opportunity, but this is not always the case because there is a lot of competition. Going for a goal will have its obstacles, but one of the biggest and most difficult things to overcome is other people. Examples of crushed dreams can be found in the books Of Mice and Men, The Old Man and the Sea, The Jungle and A Raisin in the Sun. In each of these books, the perception of the American Dream is different, but it is not possible in all of these cases because of society.
The United States is a unique place in our world today and one of the remaining true capitalistic countries. Generation after generation in the fifty states have been spoon-fed the idea of the American dream being the main goal to strive for in life. College has become more popular in the past few decades than ever before with more people realizing that it’s nessesary to get a head start on the rest of the field and to begin the journey to the American dream. With a little more than one-quarter of high school
The American dream is to slide through an effortless and easy life. An easy life, one where things are handed to you from the beginning, a movie picture life, is what Americans truly dream of. People dream of a family, money, health, and material possessions at their fingertips for all their lives. Many dream of something they really would not even want in the end. Most people are not handed all of these things and therefore are not capable of truly achieving the American dream, but those few who live their lives easily, are left feeling unfulfilled, while those who have earned the lives they lead are more likely to be content with the outcome.
Although to some people the term the “American Dream” is a vague concept. It is defined as the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and creativity. Some say, that the American Dream has become the pursuit
The American dream has been changing over the years. However, the reason it’s been changing may be more that the change of the times. At its core, the American dream is all about attitude. With the right outlook, it can be whatever it is desired to be. Not only Americans can have the dream, but everyone can obtain this beautiful concept of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In American culture, the theory of the “American Dream” provides a goal for the American people to reach and acts as a purpose of achieving happiness and obtaining financial stability in life. During the 1920’s this classic American Dream appeared effortless and workable through the determination to get out of the circumstances of the Great Depression, but as time passed that proved to be wrong. This goal has affected present day college graduates obtaining nice houses and standard living materials. College graduates in modern society are at a disadvantage of reaching the ideal American Dream due to the control of government increasing college tuition, putting a divide between social classes and the undersupply of jobs available in their field.
“When it comes to the American Dream...all of us have an equal chance to share in [it].” This quote by J.C. Watts portrays how the American Dream is a goal for many and is possible for all. All throughout history, the meaning of the American Dream has transformed many times. The original definition of the American Dream was to be prosperous; conversely, in recent years, many believe that the American Dream is just to survive. However, many Americans do not really want to just survive, they want to thrive. The American Dream is owning a successful business that allows for a prosperous life while also providing resources to help others maintain health and happiness; furthermore, the American Dream is attainable for anyone, no matter socioeconomic class, with commitment, hard work, and the willingness to take risks.
“When it comes to the American Dream...all of us have an equal chance to share in [it].” This quote by J.C. Watts portrays how the American Dream is a goal for many and is possible for all. All throughout history, the meaning of the American Dream has transformed many times. The original definition of the American Dream was to be prosperous; conversely, in recent years, many believe that the American Dream is just to survive. However, many Americans do not really want to just survive, they want to thrive. The American Dream is owning a successful business that allows for a prosperous life while also providing resources to help others maintain health and happiness; furthermore, the American Dream is attainable for anyone, no matter socioeconomic class, with commitment, hard work, and the willingness to take risks.
The idea of the “American Dream’’ originates from every person who comes from another country seeking a better life. Whether its religious freedom or to have a big house, to be rich, or simply to have the most loving and caring family there could ever be. The idea of having the perfect house, education, a big family, a car for each person in the family, and to not have to worry about your financial position constantly could be the typical cookie cutter notion of the “American Dream.” Everyone's idea of the “American Dream” can vary but with enough hard work and always trying your best, yes anyone can achieve their own version of “The American Dream”.
When it comes to the idea of the American dream, almost anyone would say that it is defined as a chance, a possibility, a potential. Existing as an opportunity, in order to achieve an important goal and live a successful life, the American dream acts as a guideline for our own choices and pathway of life that we choose to follow. Yet, all people still have a personal definition of what success means to them. Success can be perceived to mean achievements in a career, fame in society, quality in work, essentially anything that showcases a sense of accomplishment and importance, no matter its different meaning to other people. These differences are what often separate individuals in their pursuit of the American dream while affecting the people, friends and
With every year that goes by, the meaning behind the “American Dream” takes a completely different turn. The ethos, as we once knew it, meant that every United States citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work. In layman’s terms, it simply meant getting a good job, starting a family, and acquiring a house of your own. Today, this definition may be considered as rather archaic.