American Dream Essay, Research Paper

Listening to the panel discussion on the American Dream helped me to realize several things about past, current, and future generations. I found it interesting that a majority of the great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents worked in either a factory or a mill, or on a farm. Several of the women also stayed at home to raise the children. None of the panelists attended college except for Sam, Jo, and Edwin. Sam and Jo were both the first in their families to attend college, while Edwin?s grandfather and father also attended college. It surprises me that there were no interests in earlier generations to further their education. I am not sure if it was just a lack of interest in furthering their education, or if since they all could have jobs working on farms or in factories, they all found it unnecessary to go on with it.

It?s amazing how all these people and their families came from all different parts of the world, each of them with their own vision of their American Dream. It?s interesting how the farther we move ahead in generations, each one really seems to blossom more than the previous one. All of the above just goes to show how everyone?s concept of the American Dream is different, and what may suit one person and make them happy, might not be suitable for someone else. The panelists all agreed that they have achieved their version of the Dream in the life they lead, and that they would like for their children to make their own decisions and follow their own paths and journeys. They also all agreed that the American Dream is reality ? alive and well in society. All of the panelists basically defined the American Dream along the same lines, just using different terms. I agree with almost every concept that was mentioned regarding the American Dream. I believe that it is an evolving thing, depending on where we are at a given point in time, and as we grow older it changes. I certainly agree that the American Dream gives us choices?we have the freedom of choice, we have the opportunities. We all have the choice to be what we want to be and to go out and get more from this world. I would describe the American Dream in one word?happiness. Edwin said it best stating, ?The American Dream is happiness. Go where you are going to be happy and your Dream will be fulfilled. Don?t just go for materialistic things.? That was honestly the most powerful statement from the panel that really made me realize what I feel the American Dream is all about?happiness. It?s about bein