Since the success of the American Revolution and even before, many traveled to what is now the United States in pursuit of better things for them, their families, and their children. Even today, people still immigrate to the United States, both legally and illegally, in pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is this common goal-seeking that has helped to coin "the American Dream", and it is this goal that pushes most Americans to be the best that they can possibly be.

It's a wonderful thing, but the American Dream is not always so achievable in the eyes of many. This holds especially true for young college students who are trying to establish their position in the world. Chiefly, paying off the student loans needed to get through school in the first place stands in the way of many being "happy". A waning job market doesn't always look to provide the opportunity people associate with success, either. Outside of STEM fields, students don't always have an opportunity fall into their lap without serious marketing of their own potential.

Crippling debt makes a stark difference in the immediate and far future for college kids. Taking that a step further, housing costs and other inflation-related issues cause huge problems when most of your can't stretch everywhere it needs to. The stress this causes, coupled with other circumstantial stresses in life, make any chance of a dream life look bleak at best. Should this kill the prospect of the American Dream?

Nope. The American Dream might seem out of reach, but there's one important thing to keep in mind. The American dream is different for everyone. My dreams and aspirations are probably not the same as yours. They may be similar, but they aren't going to be exactly the same. That's the fun part about the American Dream; it changes for every single person. It changes based on what you define as a successful, full, and meaningful life. Your dreams are always attainable if you strive to be the very best that you can be.

The United States is not perfect by any stretch. We have many different issues that many different people feel need to be addressed, and pretty much everyone has a different idea about how to handle them. While all these issues impact many different people, and you may not see something resolved the way you feel is best, your version of the American Dream is something you can always be in charge of. And no, I'm not saying life is always going to be easy, and I'm also not saying there are literally infinitely many possible opportunities in the world for you to take advantage of. The American Dream is unique to what you want it to be, though.

Dreams are only dreams until you make them into reality. You can always drive out what you want in life. You may have student loans or a measly one-bedroom apartment to work around, but it's always possible to achieve what you want. By achieving what you want in life, you have successfully achieved the American Dream. That's what it's all about. Never forget, and never quit.