High school sophomores sit in their United States history class to learn the concept of the “American Dream” that was created by previous Americans. The “American Dream” is defined as a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals (Democracy, Rights, Liberty, Opportunity, and Equality) in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. High school students are not taught this powerful definition. Instead, they are given a strong image that will stick in their minds for years to come. The “American Dream” is an idea in history that Americans used to idolize. This image included a big house surrounded by a white picket fence. Students were taught to imagine two children running out to their mom and dad as they pulled into their garage riding in a highly equipped minivan. The Caucasian family would then all go take their pet dog Sandy on an afternoon walk around the neighborhood.
Sounds a little cliché, correct?
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I constantly find myself bashing the decade that surrounds my everyday life and the generation I forced to be born into. I dream of living in a different time period. I always think that I would fit in better in a decade that did not have modern day technology and young adults who did not compete through social media platforms. I picture myself indulged in a decade with valued music, tedious literature, and individuals who could actually hold an in depth conversation because there was nothing else better to do.
I have always envied the individuals who got to live in this previous life style. It was not until the other night when I was searching for an article idea that my mindset started to change on this topic. I quickly came across the thought that history also has its pros and cons just like the present. The difference is that my mind instinctively blocks out these cons in history. My mind does the exact opposite with the present as it is sometimes difficult to focus on the good in the world when people are shoving the bad in your face every day.
The past decades will always inspire me and hold a special place in my heart. Yet, it was not until the other night when I realized that the present and future should have the same type of effect on me. Our world is still filled with the same greatness as it once held.
This brings me back to my first focus of the “American Dream”.
I believe that the “American Dream” no longer exists. This dream is a part of the past just like several other notions that have drifted in history. The world we live in is ever-changing. This rapid change is never going to come to a halt therefore it is time that we start embracing this remarkable change we have been granted.
The new “American Dream” consists of several dreams that cannot be labeled with a single word. Young adults are changing the game by creating culture changes through different experiences of unique individuals. This could be anything from the choice of choosing to go to a college, get married, purchase a house, have children, travel, etc. Young adults are taking diverse paths and showing the world that this new foreign concept should be accepted.
Although my generation is extremely unalike past generations that I treasure, my generation carries an outlook has never been seen in history. I could not be more proud of this.
We have and continue to show the rest of the world that is okay to want more than the average and accepted life style. Along with this forthcoming mind set, we are showing the world that these ideas can be put into action. The “American Dream” is now limitless.
It is important to understand that we cannot go back in time; only forward. So yes, I will still remember previous decades for the unique characteristics each held but I will no longer dwindle and wish I was a part of previous society. It is time to realize the potential Americans hold if we learn from the past to continue to change the future of the “American Dream” for better.
