American Dream Success

When one thinks about the United States, the trademark slogan: “The Land of Opportunity” instantly comes to mind. This phrase defines the ‘American Dream’ as the notion that anyone, regardless of his or her background and place of origin can attain success once in the US. This interpretation of the American Dream can be seen as both positive and inspirational, since many have worked hard to achieve the goals they would otherwise never reach. However, early successes within the US paired with the growing influence of American popularity have helped taint the universal definition of the American Dream. Since many around the world have faith in this dream, many are also blindsided by its shortcoming; only a select few can truly achieve the concocted …show more content…
The younger one is with an ambition to succeed, the more likely they will become financially stable. This is even more so true compared to a foreigner who has lost the ability to become fluent in the native tongue. This young woman’s path has taken a lifelong detour that will be near impossible to reroute. Her slim chances of realizing the true “American Dream” have been taken away and handed down to her offspring. With little help from her financially struggling family she has been forced into the work force. “High-skill worker,” is her job title but is actually a misnomer since the position takes little to no time to be taught, “Teaching her to operate the machine took just under two minutes… By the end of the day, the trainee will be as proficient at the laser welder as Maddie” (Davidson). The microscopic chances of realizing her goals have been fractured by an unlucky situation. Chances to succeed were already difficult and now her opportunities have been buried just as quickly as it took her job training. Maddie is now looking at a lifetime of financial uncertainty as her job doesn’t meet the demand for daycare in order to give her time to take classes. Her life revolves around her kids, an example of how the pattern of the lower class staying poor continues. Without being wealthy one mistake can have unchangeable outcomes for the less privileged. Had Maddie been born into a …show more content…
The American Dream is portrayed as a magical outcome from a difficult upbringing on par with Disney movies. In Alger’s story Ragged Dick, the main antagonist, Richard, saves a wealthy man’s child from certain death in the middle of the ocean. His act of bravery merited a reward, “Then you may consider yourself engaged at a salary of $10 a week” (Alger). Richard certainly deserved a reward for his selfless act, though the reward he received will change his financial situation seemingly overnight. Fictional stories such as Ragged Dick help feed the public with the falsifying opportunities that lie in America. Belief that an opportunity will suddenly arise is a dangerous method in an individual’s path to success. With the public’s definition of success, there comes a need for higher education in order to keep up. Some families and states can afford to make such investments, while others simply can’t because of financial limitations. Cities such as Chicago struggle to appeal properly to the youth, education is lacking and districts are failing to meet certain demands, “And it 's as bad now as it 's ever been in terms of kids not getting what they need.”(HuffingtonPost). The education system in cities similar to Chicago are neglecting their students, focused more on keeping the facilities alive, than they are teaching. The lack of financial commitment has had a direct affect on