The Great American Dream: Then and Now
Instead of constantly
spending extra money on parties
and alcohol, Americans today seem
to rather save their money and spend it on vacations. They travel to places that they
love or dream about. Everyone has that one location that they wish that they could go to...
I believe that I fit into today's American Dream by wanting what most other Americans want. I hope to be successful, live life to its fullest, and be truely content all times. And like all other Americans, my Dream definitely revolves around having plenty of money.
Hopefully with my career, I will have the opportunity to retire when I please and be able to continue to live comfortably. This is another thing that I believe all Americans wish for, as well.
Now you've seen my interpretations of the American Dream, both old and new. In doing this project, I've noticed that while the older American Dream was more about living in the moment and partying, today's now focuses on how to have a better future. People are more concious of their surroundings now, yet the Dream still revolves around that one thing: money. It always has, and it always will. Even in my own American Dream, I find myself wishing for so many things that require money. I believe that the desire for material things is human nature, therefore we feel the need to be wealthy. Though times continue to change, the American Dream appears to stay practically the same within all American hearts.
What is My Dream?
During my college years, I also dream of getting the chance to study abroad. The opportunity to study somewhere in Australia or Europe for the same price as an education in Maine would be amazing.
This coming fall, it will be time for us to apply to colleges. I hope to be accepted to either St. Joseph's College of Maine or Colby College. At either place I attend, I would like to major in Biology.
College
After four years I hope to graduate with high enough grades to be accepted to a school of optometry, preferably the New England College of Optometry in Boston, Massachussetts. There, I would undergo four more years of schooling and graduate as a doctor of optometry.
Moving back to Aroostook County is what I dream to do for my final years. This is an extremely beautiful place, and it will always be my home.
Starting My Career
Retirement
Someday, I also dream of opening my own optometry business. The demand for optometrists is increasingly high, especially in the County. I would love to be able to give back to this community when my time comes.
Part of my Dream is to be able to score a job right out of college, just like all other students dream of doing. I would love to work somewhere in a big city, like Boston, or somewhere in Southern Maine.
I also dream of getting to live my retirement with the one I love. We would grow old together and do all of the things that we've always dreamed of doing before we die.
Another part of my Dream is to live in the suberbs of a big city. While Boston is my dream city, anywhere fairly large with a great atmosphere would be ideal. I definitely dream of owning a nice, big home.
Europe
Africa
Settling Down
Traveling the World
After college and before I settle down and start a family, I would love to travel the world. There's plenty of places that I dream of visiting...
And of course, there are other little odds and ends that I've always dreamed of having/doing. Owning my dream car, becoming a cat lady, and building my own home are all parts of my Dream.
Getting married and starting a family is part of my Dream, too. However, instead of having children of my own, I would love to adopt from foreign countries.
Australia
Asia
By Ally Beaulier
Today
The 1920's
Today, in 2013, the American Dream mostly revolves around money, and what it can buy for oneself. However, Americans today choose how to spend their money in a few different ways than those individuals of the 20's.
In the 1920's, America was dripping with promise: brighter futures, lives full of pleasure and, of course, endless wealth. All individuals craved better, easier, shinier ways of life. Along with this common American dream, there also came the care-free outlook on life that was seen within all people. It was an extremely easy-going time, and everyone wanted to live the Dream.
Immigration
To outsiders, America was the place to go for a better life. There they could get jobs, better raise their families, and escape the poverty of their home countries.
So the hopeful immigrants flowed into the country with high hopes of achieving the American Dream. Italians, Jews, Russians, and Germans were some of the nationalities and ethnicities seen pouring though Ellis Island's gates by the hundreds of thousands.
With homes, come families. Getting married and starting a family is something that almost every American dreams of doing.
Just like in the 20's, people still dream of owning big, beautiful houses. Americans wish to live in the location and home of their dreams.
Once inside America, most immigrants couldn't afford to move beyond New York. Since the big city offered the outsiders plenty of work oppourtunities, there wasn't much of a need to move anyways. The groups of newcomers settled within the city to form communities, like Chinatown, and from there began to live their own American Dreams.
Money
Big, beautiful houses were part of the American Dream. The wealthy owned them, while the poor dreamt of them. Servants, groundskeepers, and cooks were all there to make the good life even better.
With excessive wealth, people of the 20's had no need to work. That left them with plenty of spare time, allowing people to do whatever they wanted to do...
The newest, fanciest cars were also part of the Dream. Vehicles were a way to show off wealth away from home.
In the 20's, everyone wanted to be filthy rich. Money was flaunted in several ways...
Every parent wants the best for their child, and nowadays a college education is part of the Dream. It is nearly impossible to get a job without college, and nearly every high school student has high hopes of getting accepted to the college their dreams.
Americans nowadays also dream of having nice, brand new cars. And then there's also the dreamers who desire nice, expensive cars...
Leisure Time
Partying was an everyday occurence in the 20's for everyone who was living the Dream. The wealthy threw large, extravagant parties to show off their money and raise their social statuses.
Along with drinking, jazz music was also enjoyed by the people of the 20's. The music boomed in New York City during this roaring time; people spent their hours dancing to it and going to outings that featured the jazz.
Although America was going through Prohibition at the time, booze definitely was not lacking at these parties. People would carelessly drink to excess, and not only at social occasions. Drinking was a huge part of the 1920's lifestyle; everyone drank whenever they could.
Wealth, partying, drinking, and immigration were all part of the 1920's American Dream. People also enjoyed excessive leisure time, which was accompanied by an extremely careless outlook on life - as seen in the characters of Daisy and Tom in Gatsby. The possible impacts of impulsive decisions were never thought of; everything just was done in the moment in order to have a great time.
Today's Dream definitely doesn't include anywhere near as much partying as there was in the 20's. Instead, there is more of a focus on family and getting by successfully and happily. People still cherish owning pretty things, like cars and homes. Life continues to revolve around money...