Why Is The American Dream Unachievable

American Dream

John Steinbeck once said, “People who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves they don’t dream at all.” For various individuals, there are different kinds of meanings of the American Dream. To Lennie, from Of Mice and Men, it was tending rabbits and owning a farm with George. To someone in a war-torn country, it is to obtain freedom. Although many believe that the American Dream is unachievable, the truth is it is accomplishable because there are numerous opportunities, all it takes is determination, and to obtain an education.

Currently, there are more job openings in the technological field than ever before. As stated in source two, this is “the age of entrepreneurs” (Siebold). This means the public is taking

more risks, developing a company, and trying to achieve the American Dream. Anyone can become an entrepreneur and that can be their job. The only items you need are a computer and internet. After, you have your two key items you are able to make your own company with the help of the internet (Siebold). Excellent examples of people who achieved the American Dream with just a computer and the internet are Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and many more brilliant individuals (Bio). At 12, Mark Zuckerberg had a passion for computers and in high school, he established a music software called Synapse. It then leads to the creation of Facebook. At 13, Bill Gates also developed an interest in computers. At the age of 15, he and Paul Allen they established a program called “Traf-O-Data.” This program observes traffic signals in Seattle. It then leads to him becoming the co-founder of Microsoft, which has become the largest software enterprise. All of these entrepreneurs have the determination in order to obtain the American Dream.
When an individual has the determination and a strong work ethic are key factors that make the American Dream achievable.

In a recent Pew poll in March of 2014, 65% of the pollsters’ response where the people who want to attain the American Dream only if they’re willing to put in the hard work. If a person lacks both determination and grit, it will be more difficult for them to succeed. In another poll made by Allstate in 2011, 75% of Americans said that the American Dream was still possible and achievable for people who have the willpower to obtain the American Dream (Bowman). Both attributes are necessary if one wants a better chance at achieving the American dream. Transition to

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Acquiring an education will increase the odds within a person’s control and assist anyone in obtaining the American Dream.

In a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are jobs that pay an annual salary of at least $61,000 that only needs a high school diploma (Giang). If this is how much someone could with just a high school diploma, one can earn an even high salary after obtaining a college degree. In a HuffPost Business post, they mentioned that college tuition is too high and that many students are debtors. However, there is financial aid, scholarships, and grants for students who need financial assistance (Fairchild). Financial aid, scholarships, and grants can benefit people who have the ambition to go to college. The Institute of Education Sciences has statistics that states about 85% of students receiving financial aid in 2012-2013 (Financial Aid). 85% of students receiving financial aid is a massive amount of people, whereas in 2007-2008 only 80% of students could receive financial aid. On Scholarships.com, there are over 3.7 million scholarships and grants that are worth over $19 billion (Scholarships.com). If there are over 3.7 million scholarships and grants available why not apply for one? There are all sorts of scholarships and grants from academic to athletics to creativity and some unusual ones too. For example, there is one for being left handed, assembling a prom dress or tuxedo out for duct tape for prom, and many more unique scholarships (Types of

Scholarships). One can earn a scholarship or grant that can give them a complete ride through college financially. There are so many resources out there that will assist anyone to be able to receive money to be able to get into a college and achieve the American Dream.
The American Dream is real and anyone can obtain it. There are countless amounts of job openings that are available, but you must be strong-willed in order to obtain this, and acquire an education. Walt Disney exclaimed that “If you can dream it, you can do it. Remember this whole thing started with a dream and a mouse.” Walt Disney was able to obtain the American Dream with this small idea, so you can too!