The American Dream: The Path To Success

Improved Essays
There are many paths to success, but what does it truly mean? Not everyone defines success the same way, and it can vary greatly in different cultures, societies, and economic class. Although it can be so broad, it can also easily be defined by the context of an individual’s life and struggle.
The American Dream is a goal that many people are inspired to achieve as they believe it to be their definition of being successful. This dream may look different depending on the place, but generally everyone aspires towards it. Who wouldn’t want to? Under this vision, a person would be able to have a job with a stable income, a safe home, and good education. Although it may not necessarily be flashy, people want it because whatever they need is able
…show more content…
Their importance differs from person to person within the context of their society. For example, a 24-year-old healthy male living in a politically and economically stable country has more of a chance of getting a decent education. With a good schooling, he would be more likely to work his way up to a well-paying job and eventually buy a house with a spouse and all the amenities and luxuries everyone wants in the modern day such as a car, TV, computers, smartphones, etc. by the time he’s 35. Through his career journey this individual appears to be successful at every stage for his age and place in life. But what about the male of the same age in a country full of economic and political corruption, or worse, war? It is much harder for him to get an education, or even a job that pays him ethically. Chances are, if this individual does have a job they may treat him poorly or pay him lower than what is legally required (if there are even any laws in place for workers). If this individual has a home that he can return to at the end of the day, even if it is modest or old, this is defined as success for him because of his circumstances. He may not have a car or a laptop or a smartphone, but many around him may not even have a home. Because of those circumstances, in his society he has something that many may not, making him …show more content…
Even though it may not always happen, this country tries very hard for many to start on a level playing field by doing things like passing laws that make discrimination of religion, ethnicity, and social class illegal when applying for a job. In this country, it does not matter where someone is from or what family they were born into, but what that individual can bring to the table and provide for their community. That in itself is the American Dream; to build successes that can radiate through the society, benefiting all of us for the

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Many immigrants all over the world come to U.S every year to seek their American Dream, which is a national ethos of the United States. Moreover, the American Dream is used in a lot of ways but it essentially is a set of ideas that suggest that all people in the USA can succeed through hard work. Moreover, anyone has potential to lead a happy, successful life. A lot of people believe that rising social mobility and success is possible in the U.S for everyone due to the American economic and political system. James Truslow Adams in 1931 defined the American dream as: "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.”…

    • 1927 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What is the “American Dream”? The American Dream is seen through many different angles, aspects, and goals. Everyone has his/her own definition and value(s) to how the American Dream is defined and how to accomplish their dream. For example, in Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee’s Sizzler and the Search for the American Dream, she describes how her father had “dreamed of having steak dinners every night” and how her mother “dreamed of getting lace dollies and matching china.” (Lee)…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The American Dream Is what everyone wants. It is this big obsession that captures its prey and weakens it to give up all its senses to it. It is a fantasy to some but a goal or mission for others to achieve. The American dream is obtained by the few who pursue it and do not let it be just a fantasy brought up by society, cultural beliefs, or how he or she has been raised.…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Achieving the American Dream “Almost two-thirds say they live paycheck to paycheck, and 47 percent say that no matter how hard they work, they cannot get ahead” (Wallechinsky 56). The American Dream tends to be a dream of possibility that draws people from other countries to America as well as driving those already in America to work harder to be successful. The American Dream is also a dream that is achieved when someone is financially stable as well as patriotic towards their country of America, all while finding their social identity in America. Although some argue that the American Dream is not still as attainable as it was because some people who try and attain the American Dream have been unsuccessful, others insist that the American Dream is still provided by the United States of America to the extent of those who do not have setbacks put on them that hold them back from fully achieving the…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Throughout history, and even in modern times, there has always been evidence of the American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that you can go from nothing, working hard through determination and perseverance, that you can achieve wealth, success and equal opportunity. To accomplish these dreams, you need to keep your goal in mind, being proactive and under any circumstances, keep on continuing to work towards your happiness in life. Every U.S citizen has the opportunity within the dream to take diverse paths to fulfill their motives. Anyone can be able to reach the destination of opulence and satisfaction, that's the power of-of the dream.…

    • 2063 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    People have always been told that if you put hard work and dedication in what you do, the outcome will be prosperous. The American Dream implies that same concept. A concept most Americans are familiar with. It is very well stated in this quote, “This is the American Dream: an ethos of freedom that provides anyone who achieves success through hard work with the opportunity for prosperity and equality” (Wadhwa). And yes, there are other ways of interpenetrating the American Dream.…

    • 200 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It's what humans live for, it's what humans stride for. The American dream. A goal that we all have. We all have different methods of reaching this goal. To some it's not having to worry about money, to others it's to achieve full happiness.…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “For every man ...his chance ...his golden opportunity… to live, to work, to be himself. And to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him (Samuel 1).” The American Dream is more than just an ideology, It’s a vital role in who we are, what we do, and why we do it. This conceptual American Dream idea dates back as far as the sixteenth century, when Englishmen were persuaded to move to the colonies, thinking that the land of plenty, opportunity, destiny, and religious freedom awaited them. The idea of The American Dream can be viewed in many different ways, and is different for everyone…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I interviewed two people who have persuaded the American Dream and have tried achieving it no matter what prejudices they have faced. They have actually worked hard in order to attain their dreams. The meaning of the American dream to one of the people I interviewed was, “something that every American and immigrant aspires to be. It’s a lifestyle that includes having freedom, money, a good marriage, and being financial stable.…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the history of America, people have traveled here with the mindset that they will become rich and prosperous. This idea is often associated with the American dream; moreover, people believe that this concept of the American dream is easily achievable. Today, the Dream has drastically changed; however, it is achievable if a person works hard, knows what they want to accomplish, and is patient in accomplishing it. The whole idea of the American Dream is that a person can come to America with nothing and in turn they can become prosperous and wealthy by working hard and earning it.…

    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Does America still provide access to “The American Dream?” But what is the “American Dream?” It is the ideal that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. To me, “The American dream” is not as achievable as it once was before. I feel this was because although many people have tried to achieve, most have fallen short of their goals.…

    • 577 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jobless Ghettos Analysis

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the United States, there is the belief that an individual, no matter who they are or where they come from, has the ability to succeed as long as they work hard for what they want to achieve. This belief is known as “The American Dream”. Despite “The American Dream” being a hegemonic belief, in reality it is not true. Within the United States there are systems that uphold inequality. These systems of inequality make it difficult for certain groups of people to achieve the so-called “American Dream” no matter their abilities.…

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In modern-day society, many people longing to attain the American dream, which is to live happily and securely by having wealth, good standing, and privilege in the society. But, this dream is the belief held through hard work, bravery, and willpower someone can achieve a better life, which is typically within the economic success. In most time, the imaginings that we have about the life in the U.S.A are an illusion because “We think of the American Dream as owning a home and having a happy family accompanied by financial success. Immigrants included dream in their visions about America as a promised land. On the other hand, race, ethnicity, or gender based vision exclude a certain category of immigrants from dreaming.”…

    • 191 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Have you ever fealt a feeling of "I did it" or just an overall great feeling knowing you achieved something, thats what many people consider the american dream to be. The american dream can be seen in many ways some may see it as an absolute impossible thing to achieve while others feel like they've been living it ever since birth. The american dream is in short words a depiction of someones success. People spend their whole lifes working in order to provide for themselves and many want to be able to enjoy their earnings at an older age.…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Most people, if not all in the US always want to live the American dream at some point in their lives. But the question is, what is the meaning of the American dream, and how can people achieve this vague and elusive realisation? The American dream is a national philosophy or a belief that specifies the ideal factors such as democracy, freedom, rights and equality that accords every citizen equal opportunity to prosper and achieve their set goals (Glenn, 2002). The foundation of the American dream is deeply rooted in the declaration of independence that assert that “all men are created equal”. In simple terms, the American dream eliminates the artificial barriers to prosperity and promotes upward social mobility for every individual in the US depending on their hard work irrespective of their, social, religious, historical and racial background.…

    • 1562 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays