OH LOOK A PUPPY
So, now that I have your attention, let's get down to some real talk. We all know about the American dream; we’ve heard about it, read about it, blogged about it, but why is it so significant? How did it come to be? How is it still persisting in American society after all these years?
If you expect me to answer those questions I’m not going to. For one thing it’s going to be different for everyone since everyone is looking through different lenses, seeing from unique perspectives, coming from different backgrounds. Plus, that’s not my goal here. If you want answers you can find them in The American Dream in the 21st Century, a compendium edited by Sandra Hanson and John White. Within its chapters you will find the writings of many respectable folks providing their views on the American Dream.
And no this is not a book report.
See, there was a certain section within this book that I found rather interesting–well, 3 small sections actually, but let’s just lump them together by referencing pages 8-10. Here you can see 3 smaller separate paragraphs set apart from the rest of the text, listing various responses to certain aspects of the American Dream. Of course, what immediately stands out is the repeated mention of freedom, equality, equal opportunity, success, security, etcetera etcetera. What really caught my attention was the idea of educational opportunity and educational advancement.
Why? Because I’m the first in my family to go straight into a 4 year university after high school.
In this day and age having a great education can make or break you; the importance of getting a college degree in order to get a good job with a stable income is emphasized again and again. I especially hear it from my mother, a wonderful little Filipino woman who dreamed of getting a college degree but could only make it as far as high school because of her family’s financial situation. My father was quite similar in the sense that he was never able to get to college, and instead joined the Navy. Luckily for him he was able to ascend to high positions after retiring, and makes a more than stable income. Because of this my parents reiterated time and time again that we 3 kids had to go to college so we would live better lives than they did.
My brother and sister didn’t quite listen.
Instead, they started working in retail or restaurant jobs, only to realize later that it wasn’t paying them enough for them to be satisfied. So my sister, the oldest of us, started trying to get her degree; 11 years later she earned her degree in Communications while racking up a whopping debt of some amount I don’t quite remember (it would make your wallet cry though). My brother, on the other hand, didn’t bother with school and just kept working hard; 11 years later and he’s struggling to pay bills and make ends meet.
I was the youngest, and often called “the good kid” who listened to mommy and daddy and did what I was told. I took the higher level courses in high school. I focused on my studies. I took advantage of as many opportunities as I could and I made it; I got into one of the toughest schools in California to get into, on track with units already complete to pursue a degree in Engineering.
Despite the odds stacked against me I made it, and that is what’s so important about this section.
That it speaks of people’s American Dreams being linked to getting a good education, or paving that path for their children. It speaks of a desire to succeed, a desire for future generations to live relatively comfortably, a desire for the educational opportunities that didn’t exist in the past, a desire for financial security in a world where good finances are practically everything, a desire for a better future.
This was the American Dream for my parents.
This is the American Dream I hold for the children I will have some day.
This is one aspect the Dream I live, and it’s important that everyone know that they can too.
After all, White and Hanson stated on page 8 while introducing the idea of equal opportunity “the American Dream endures [because] it has been closely intertwined with deeply held American values, especially freedom and opportunity.”
The opportunities are there; it’s a matter of whether or not we’ll seek them.
Thanks for reading, have a dappertato
The idea of education attainment as one of the American Dreams also interested me and was something I agree with. Growing up I was always told by family members and close friends that getting an education was important because it can help one have more options in one's life in finding what work to do and that it is a excellent way to develop one's various skills such as problem solving and being able to focus on a task well. My mom received a formal education at a 4 year college in the United States but my dad stopped at high school in Korea. They had different educational attainment but they both stressed the importance of education and its benefits. I think that educational attainment is a common American Dream because it is very connected to being able to find stability in work and making one find and develop their self identity in society.
ReplyDeleteI also found this interesting while I was reading the text. A key part for most people's success stems from their level of education. If we hope to make any further advancements in the world, if we hope to achieve something great, if we hope to grasp our American Dreams, then we have to put ourselves in the best position possible to do so. Like you mentioned about your brother, there comes a point that we can only be so great before we find ourselves stuck. People often find themselves getting stuck while on the road to their dream, but you can better prepare yourself for what’s to come if you have a quality education.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog very interesting. The fact that receiving a college education is now practically mandatory for landing a stable job in our society is something that I completely agree with. Although there are cases where talented, yet not officially educated, individuals reach immense success, people like both your and my family grew up knowing that we had to go to college for our futures to be bright. My mom was in college for almost eleven years, like your sister. She took night classes almost one by one because she also had to raise me, my brother, and my sister. Our family members are proof that education plays an underrated part in achieving the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteYou closed with the quotation about how the American Dream encompasses the values that we hold as Americans. There's just no escaping that. We dream about what we value, I guess.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. The dog picture made me laugh.
You're blog is simply inspiring to say the least. It shows the dedication of a hard worker who had the odds pilled entirely against you. And what you have accomplished thus far is simply amazing in that of itself. Encompassing your own story with that of White & Hanson's collaboration of the American Dream creates a true rendition of how one must persevere to meet their goals. It is not something that is added on a silver platter. It is long hours, sleepless nights, and stressful days full of to-do lists, assignments, and deadlines. Well, that may just be the typical college student but everyone relates to this dream in one way or another. Education, now, is such a key to success and must be completed in order to fulfill most American Dreams. The illustrations add personality to your blog, something I appreciate, and packs in the meaningfulness of your own dream with the required text, well done.
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