Everyone in this country has most likely heard the term, "The American Dream," and its apparent omnipotent meaning. A simple Google search of the phrase boasts of over 85 million results, each either analyzing meanings or debating its existence today. But let's move past whether or not the traditional meaning of The American Dream still holds true today, and allow me to bring up a more relevant version in the eyes of my peers and fellow students.
It's that time of year; schools have just gotten out and the class of 2016 is getting ready to pack up for college. A hot topic for anyone in their junior and senior year in high school is where they will be studying after graduating. Even if people don't know someone, they'll still be talking about where they're going and whether or not they got a full ride. From loading up on classes to taking extracurriculars that they don't really care about, all in the name of getting into whatever they deem to be a "good" university and picking up a hefty scholarship; that's the new "American Dream" for students and how they go about reaching it.
High School has turned into building up an application for college and using that to become accepted into top schools. It's become more about the destination after high school, rather than the journey and enjoying what's already going on at the moment. Picking any classes or going for leadership positions in clubs is determined by what "looks good." I'm guilty of all of these actions because the whole situation is a game that you can't get out of playing if you want to win (go to college and get scholarships).
While this doesn't go to say that students in countries other than America aren't caught up in similar circumstances, but the unbelievable inflation of tuition in this country makes picking up assistance in education becomes even more crucial, especially when it sometimes means the difference between being able to afford college or not.
With an issue so complex and people so divided about what to do about it (keep things the same, make school free, use more lenient grading, etc.), it's almost strange to think that a more reasonable system will be worked out by the time our kids go to college. So for now, the new "American Dream" for students will continue to be the highest and most coveted achievement.
