When I think of the American Dream I think about using education as a means to rise above what you came from. It doesn’t necessarily mean being filthy rich or famous but living comfortably and being able to enjoy certain luxuries and indulgences (i.e. travelling, going out to eat, taking vacations, having your own car, owning a home, etc.) without worrying about how you are going to pay the bills next month. In terms of education the American Dream still exists. Many people are still going to college and trying to obtain degrees as a means to achieve the American Dream however, there are several factors making it harder for people to achieve the American Dream by going to college. The amount of people going to college has increased over
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People like Liz Murray and Ursula Burns are inspirational figures that have used education as a way to go above and beyond their limitations. They came from nothing and rose up way above their circumstances. Ursula Burns grew up in the projects of Lower East Side Manhattan. Burns says that she “knew that education was my way up and out”(Lean In). Burns attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute for her Bachelors and attended Columbia University for her Masters. Today Burns is the CEO and Chairman of Xerox. (Howard). Another inspirational figure that used education to achieve success is Liz Murray. She was born to drug addict parents in the Bronx and had to fend for herself. She remembers eating toothpaste and lip balm once because of her hunger. At fifteen years old she left home sleeping in subways, streets, and her friend’s couches. She won a scholarship to Harvard and graduated in 2009. She used education to rise above what most people would say are impossible circumstances (Hart). It’s stories like these that continue to inspire and motivate people to go to college regardless of obstacles they may face. People like Burns and Murray show us that no matter your circumstances the American Dream is still possible through
People like Liz Murray and Ursula Burns are inspirational figures that have used education as a way to go above and beyond their limitations. They came from nothing and rose up way above their circumstances. Ursula Burns grew up in the projects of Lower East Side Manhattan. Burns says that she “knew that education was my way up and out”(Lean In). Burns attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute for her Bachelors and attended Columbia University for her Masters. Today Burns is the CEO and Chairman of Xerox. (Howard). Another inspirational figure that used education to achieve success is Liz Murray. She was born to drug addict parents in the Bronx and had to fend for herself. She remembers eating toothpaste and lip balm once because of her hunger. At fifteen years old she left home sleeping in subways, streets, and her friend’s couches. She won a scholarship to Harvard and graduated in 2009. She used education to rise above what most people would say are impossible circumstances (Hart). It’s stories like these that continue to inspire and motivate people to go to college regardless of obstacles they may face. People like Burns and Murray show us that no matter your circumstances the American Dream is still possible through