When I hear or think about the term “American dream” it often does not spark any emotion in me. I think the reason is that it was always something that I never really cared for or thought about. I started learning more about it when I was in middle school and a little more in high school. Personally, I think that in the past the American dream is what so many people from foreign countries wished to have and why they come to America. They think that it will better prepare their children and give them more opportunities to succeed in the world. I also think that the American dream can change from person to person with each person wanting something different.
For example, my friends “American dream” is having a nice house with 3 kids and a husband; which is not too much off theme of the original American dream. My American dream is to become financially stable, travel all over the world, and eventually get married. I plan to achieve my version of the American dream by getting my two college degrees, working hard in the NICU to make the money needed to be financially stable (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), and then planning many trips with family and friends. I think it exists to try to give people hope that they can do whatever it is that they aspire to do once they come to the land of the “free”.
I think that it is good to a certain extent because it gives people the hope and motivation to strive for their goals. The American dream still exists today but only to some people like foreigners, people from past decades (people who were born in the 1940s-1950s) but the rest of society does not think that it exists. I do not think that it exists in the traditional sense like I explained previously. I think that with the way society is constantly changing that the ideal of the American dream got pushed back and other things like social desirability came in its place.
I think the impact of it dying out is not major because we do not hear or even see people still talk about it and want it in the sense that those before us did. I don’t really hear or even see people still talk about it anymore and a lot of us don’t even think about the American dream because we are so preoccupied with the harsh reality of the world that we actually and that is the fact if you don’t come from a wealthy background, education, and are in a minority group you already are a little farther from the starting line. The U.S does allow for some mobility, but the reality is that it does not offer a lot.
