American Dream Definition

American Dream Both of my parents have achieved the american dream,they came from single parent homes, payed their way through college worked hard and got a good job.The american dream as described by James Truslow Adams 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.” (Adams). Opportunity for each is that anyone can improve their current life and become better, richer and have a higher quality of life. According to James Truslow Adams definition of the american dream, it is alive and prospering, anyone based on their ability can achieve a better life than their parents or get to a place where they are satisfied with their life and the
work that they have done, education is offered to anyone, there are options for how to manage college debt and immigrants are prospering in the US. Education in the US is seeing steady annual growth, while not the top country for education, we are continually getting better, education is available for anyone and is an important factor in achieving the american dream.
If people are educated it makes it easier for them to later move onto college and higher education which then will lead to more employment options. “ We observe that student achievement in the United States is estimated to have increased by 1.6% of a standard deviation.” (Hanushek, Woessmann, Peterson) a standard deviation is the increments shown on a graph in which measures the extent of differences between the the subjects being compared. While 1.6% of a deviation doesn't sound like a lot, it makes a big difference when talking about education, if the US keeps making steady increases in education quality, and student achievement everyone will be able to get a quality education which will then benefit them later in life. The increases in education that our country has been making sets up children for success at an early age, teaching them to work hard at their goals and that education can get them where they want to be. “US students in elementary school do seem to be performing considerably better than they were a couple of decades ago.Most notably, the performance of 4th grade students on math tests rose steeply between the mid-1990’s and 2011.” (Hanushek, Woessmann, Peterson) The unemployment rates for those with only a high school education was 6.3%
in April of 2014, and for those who have a college degree was 3.3% according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. By going to college and getting a degree you dramatically increase your job security and quality.
Second generation immigrants in the US are seeing great success in education and the work force because of pressures placed on them by their parents but also the opportunities provided for them by living in the US.
First generation immigrants come to the US to make a better life for themselves and their children, they are usually escaping from unsuitable living conditions, civil unrest and poor quality of life. They come to the US to make a better life for themselves and to achieve the american dream, they risk everything and usually come to the country with almost nothing but, are able to become successful and raise successful children. “ The second generation immigrant students perform better in academics that first generation and even third generation immigrants students.” ( Quartz) immigrant children are seeing more success than others because they are taught to work hard. Second generation immigrants see the sacrifices their parents made to get them where they are and everything they have risked to better their life. They are strongly motivated to make the best of all the opportunities given to them. “Oddly, the advantage was also stronger among poorer communities.”( Quartz) when growing up in a poorer environment you get more motivated to do well in school because it can get you out of where you live now. When surrounded by poverty the motivation to get out of it is much greater because you are seeing it first hand. The road to get out of poverty and to achieve the
american dream is education.
Colleges offer many ways to help make a college education affordable by giving out grants, scholarships, and having parents save money from an early age. Having a college education is imperative to achieving the american dream and it doesn't have to cost you a fortune and drown you in debt. There are many options when it comes to paying for college, “You can start getting scholarships and grants as a freshman in highschool.”( Farrington). Grants and scholarships can sometimes pay for your education throughout all four years but, they are mostly just a set dollar amount given to help with the cost. Having many grants and scholarships can add up and is money that won't go on your student loans. Community college is also always an option for people which is very low in cost. Attending a community college combined with grants and scholarships, college can become very affordable. Ways to make college even more affordable is to “ start applying for financial aid early, and look for a non need based financial aid” ( Farrington). Grants, scholarships, and financial aid were put in place to make college more affordable for everyone, college is not meant to be extremely cost prohibitive and cause you to regress. College is meant to better your education and in turn increase your employment rates, and job quality. People who have a college degree are more seriously considered and favored in the job market because it shows a quality work ethic and competences. The unemployment rate in April of 2015 with only a high school diploma was 5.4% those with only some college education was 4.7% and those with a college degree was 2.7% according to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With only some college education, the unemployment rate is lowered 0.7% and with a college degree the rate was lowered 2.7%. Attending college increases your chances greatly of achieving the american dream, it gives you the opportunity to have a better, richer, fuller life.
The american dream can and will continue to be achievable because of hard work and education.The definition of the american dream classifies living according to your ability or achievement meaning that everyone's american dream is going to look different, it allows for the american dream to be achieved by all people, even those who are disabled. Attending college and being motivated to have upward mobility is what makes a person able to achieve the american dream.