The term American dream was first used in 1931 by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his book, “Epic of America” He says “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” So is it still viable in today’s day and age, nearly 90 years later.
Mostly everyone at one point in their life have the dream of achieving the American dream. The American dream can even be as simple as going to college, getting a degree, and getting a job and home. However, those things are not as simple to achieve for some as it is for others. For example, lower-class families may have a lower chance to achieve the American dream, but not entirely impossible. Lower-class citizens or immigrants usually do not have a lot of money, and therefore will not have the money to spend on college or any type of higher education. One may get discouraged by that fact and think that they may never have a chance to become anything greater than they already are, and never go to college and achieve the American dream.
However, it is possible for one to get a life chance, which in this case could be a scholarship to college, if they work hard enough and are determined and achieve good grades. However, it is not just college that one worries about to achieve their American dream, but also money and one’s job. Taxes nowadays are very high, so if one is making the same salary for a few years, and the taxes keep rising, then instead of gaining they are either staying the same or losing money. At this point one can stop believing that they will ever achieve the American dream and go through structural mobility. if one gives up hope and stops trying then they will never achieve the American dream. It is becoming harder and harder to achieve the American dream, but not impossible, people are just giving up hope that they will achieve it.
Most people perceive the American dream as moving up in social class, have opportunities, and wealth. However for other’s the American dream could also be perceived as being financially secure, happy, and have a happy family life.
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The latter version of the American dream is much easier to achieve, however, that is not to say that one still cannot achieve the former also. There are a lot of life chances out there, one just has to realize it at the right time. For example, if part of one’s American dream is to also become a singer there are a lot of singing competitions that give one the opportunity to achieve it.However, if one just wants the typical American dream then they should look for opportunities in their daily life. One should look for what they are good at and work at it so that they excel at it, and then work hard and try to get scholarships to get into a good college. this could all also help one to achieve in social and structural mobility. Even if sometimes things seem hopeless, and like one may never achieve their dreams, one should still work hard and try to remember that nothing is impossible.
The American dream is something that most people want to achieve, however, there are some who argue and say that it is not achievable for most people. If one works hard and has determination than that is one step closer to achieving the American dream. Part of the American dream that people want are structural mobility, social mobility, and life chances. Structural mobility is when one’s economic status changes, social mobility is when one moves up or down in the social class, and life chances are opportunities that one can get to help them change their status. So, keeping that all in mind, is the dream still achievable? I’ll let you decide.
