Persuasive Essay : The Definition Of The American Dream

It seems that over the decades, the “American Dream” has changed along with the generations who follow it. After the “Great Recession”, the housing crisis which triggered a financial crisis, and millennials have changed their point of view about homeownership. This change created another definition for the “American Dream”, because more opt out to rent versus buy, and some don’t bother with houses at all and prefer to live in apartments. This is all due to rising student debt, risks associated with owning a home, and the fact that homes are often suited for families and it’s been proven that millennials are pushing back the age for conceiving children.

Recently there has been a lot of debate about the importance of college education. Students are asking if it’s worth the debt to attend a four year university or community college. Some are thinking what are the benefits of a degree is in the workforce. With college tuition increasing and state fundings lowering, low income students are struggling to attain a higher education. College institutions should have a role to provide students higher education and equal opportunity to students to increase social mobility yet intergenerational reproduction of privilege has produced inequality in education.

The American Dream is a concept of living that has been based in America. This concept explains how everyone who lives in America strives to have enough money to have a very comfortable life. they get there with a mid-high income, living comfortably and have a loving family. What you are really doing is living the life you want and the life you are comfortable with a place that you know will protect you. Now in this environment that seems near nonexistent to most people in America. The reason for that is because of a lack of education, abuse in drugs, violence in impoverished neighborhoods, and more causes for how the poor are not able to reach the high life none the less the middle. There also seems to be a connection to tobacco companies in the more ghetto and impoverished communities the reason for that being is because it's an easier place to target and the people who live there will have a harder time kicking the drug habit and most likely never kick the habit. So that means an unhealthy lifestyle will get the companies that support it will gain more cash in their pockets. And with that, the people won't ever get out of the pit of poverty. But even though with the negativities many people have and nothing had to stop them from even trying and succeeding in their goal of escaping poverty and reaching for the American dream.

What is the American Dream? For most, it can be summed up in three words: comfort, happiness, and future. It is the term used to describe the 'perfect' lifestyle that most American citizens and immigrants wish to achieve: a loving family, stable financial status, and the opportunity to save for their family's future. It is described as "the belief that hardworking Americans" can live comfortable lives and provide for their children's future "and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire" (Wallechinsky 64). Rising costs of living (including healthcare and insurance costs), an unstable job market, and skyrocketing prices of higher education are making the ideal lifestyle look a lot less achievable. The ideal American life is not still accessible because those who come from a privileged life or are able to get a high-wage job can achieve it, but because of the change in the economy and job market, it may not be accessible to all.

“I love the American Dream. I feel this is the place I was supposed to be in. It’s beautiful. I love it.” (Immaculee Ilibagiza). The American dream to me is a place where everyone has a chance to succeed. Where everyone can live in happiness. The dream is that everyone is happy, safe, and that everyone can make a decent living!

In the article “Who Gets to Graduate” by Paul Tough examines a problem about low income students are less likely to graduate from college than students from middle class or wealthier families. In the United States, school systems are not created equally. Middle and upper class students have access to safe and modern schools equipped with everything they possibly need to stay in that high rank because they came from a family who has the money to support their studies. Students from low-income families don’t have a lot of the support, stability, and money from home that higher-income students can take for granted.

Today in society the determination for a college degree lies beyond education towards future financial security. While college debt seems to be ever increasing, students from low-income families are less likely to attend college due to the financial hardship. The social class that a student’s family falls into shows correlation on whether that student will or not attend college (Peske & Haycock, 2006). However, looking at this issue from my own prospective it seems as though no matter the social class students are attending college. What more so seems to have an affect on outcomes for individuals is how there family’s social economic status effects how well a student performs in college. For a student from a low-income family nothing can seem more daunting than the overwhelming amount of debt we have to pay after college.

The phrase “The American Dream” is relatively old and has a long history, and although its ideas has changed tremendously throughout the centuries, it still holds great meaning behind it. It not only symbolizes financial success, but having the freedom to live independently. For some, living the American Dream means having justice, material possession, or just pursuing everlasting happiness. The new American Dream requires you to earn opportunity, and is has been more difficult for others based on their social standing, ethnicity, and race to obtain; as opposed to the past American Dream which involved optimism and hope for a better life. Each source clearly demonstrates the need for determination and willpower to overcome barriers and obstacles of life.

What is the American Dream? And can we all really obtain it? The american dream is what each of the three passages above are trying to show in one way or another. The artist, speaker or singer in each of these pieces have created works of art that expresses the idea of the american dream in their work. This dream however is not shown as something that all can obtain easily. These particular works are all a way to show us that we still have a long ways to go. The american dream should be equally offered to all citizens of this nation. We sometimes forget that not everyone feels like they get a fair share of opportunities here.

The American Dream isn't always a spouse of the opposite gender , kids, and a home. Although this may be for many ,for an immigrant is otherwise. Many latinos from Mexico, Central America, South America, have migrated to the United States in search for opportunities. The american dream is the belief that anyone regardless of where they were born can attain their own version of success.

From the moment colonists stepped foot on American soil, freedom flowed through their skin. The new country would bring endless opprotunities to anyone who wished to pursue their dreams. Through years of effort, the United States was born and along with it a sense of equality and meaning. Today, America has much to stand for. Although times were rough along the way, the American dream is one of being free and having a voice.

We live in an age where many of us don’t realize that the American Dream is one of the most common false promoted ideals. The American Dream being “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative”, gives off the idea that anything is achievable if you work hard enough (dictionary). However, in reality it’s only achievable for a select group. In the Novela “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinback, he clearly emphasised the point that shows that the idea is quite controversial in the eyes of the main characters.The american dream is a flawed system which is unattainable for a majority of americans and it’s painfully clear that it was set up for failure from the very start. The American Dream is a quintessential idea in which is held at virtually impossible standard for a mass majority of americans due to the loss of education, work ethic, and forever rising amount of disabilities.

Work, it seems like a insignificant part of our day, you clock in then clock out. But on average, Americans work 43 hours per week out of a total of 120 hours, take out the recommended sleep time and we work 43 out of 80 total hours. That means we work more than half the time in our daily lives. most americans believe in The American Dream. that means employees believe in working that much time for the chance of being rich, having expensive things and being successful. the problem with that is the The American Dream is getting less and less possible each and every day.

What is the American Dream? Most believe that it's a place and a system where everyone have a equal opportunities to grow and achieve their potential, no matter what their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and so on. However, some may have to work harder then other to achieve this dream. I believe that the American Dream is available today and that everyone has a equal opportunity to achieve the dream however, I believe that many may have to jump though many hoops and work much harder then other to acquire said dream.

Did you know, not everyone in america has the same chance at achieving the American Dream? In this life, it is made to believe that everyone will have an equal chance at achieving this goal when reality will tell you otherwise. The American Dream is a beautiful thing, full of mysteries and fortune; like a roller coaster it has its ups and downs at certain points but to fully understand the reach of it, you must dissect what people perceive it to be then put real life chances in. The thought of reaching this goal resides among all of us and your opportunity is out there somewhere. Not to mislead those who seek this treasure, this will not be an easy task. The journey is long and hard, but if you so much as have a tenacious vision to achieve it, then your will, will be completed. You'll see, that is can be divided into two categories, both can have their normal effects. You’ll earn a deep sought after respect for yourself and those around will also pay homage and hopefully follow in your footsteps.