I was raised by different parents than my older siblings. They weren’t different parents biologically, they were different parents economically. For years they struggled to get by with very little education. But once their children were all in school, they decided to make a change. A few years before I was born, my parents earned their college degrees. What this meant for me was a world of security, provision, and opportunity that far surpassed that of my brother and sisters. My story is very similar to that of Angela Whitiker, a former single mother who effectively pulled herself and her family out of poverty by achieving her nursing degree. Her movement from the projects to the middle class is a feat to be admired. But what gave her such upward mobility? And why is it that in our society so many seem to lack it? According to the national census 46.2 million people in America lived in poverty in 2010. That is up nearly 3 million from 2009 and the fourth year in a row that we find an increase (US Census Bureau). Those numbers and that trend are simply unacceptable. It is clear something must be done to raise families out of poverty. Something must be done to create in others that same kind of positive change and class movement found in Angela Whitiker. According to Class Matters, “Upward mobility requires… the twin pillars of success: human capital and social capital. Human capital is a person’s education, job credentials, and employability. Social capital usually means emotional support and encouragement from a reliable stakeholder in one’s life” (230). Angela Whitiker used these pillars to build a strong foundation that changed her family’s life. If we want to make more Angelas in our country and in our... ... middle of paper ... ...eb. 10 Mar 2012. Perdue, Andy. "Ste. Michelle Estates pledges $1M for Richland wine center." Yakima Herald Republic[Yakima] 10 Feb 2012, 2B. Print. "Poverty Highlights." U.s. census bureau. U.S. Cenus Bureau, 2011. Web. 3 Mar 2012. "Projected Supply, Demand, and Shortages of Registered Nurses: 2000-2020." American Health Care Association. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jul 2002. Web. 10 Mar 2012. Shepard, Michael, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton, and Karen Troianello. "Wine tourism doesn't stop at the winery." Yakima Herald-Republic [Yakima] 21 Mar 2010, n. pag. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. Snelgrove, Erin. "Local college students join the line for online classes." Yakima Herald-Republic [Yakima]28 Oct 2009, n. pag. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. Thrive by Five Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan 2012. Wilkerson, Isabel. “Angela Whitiker’s Climb.” Keller. 202-233. Print.
In attempting to define the American Dream, considered more of an individual definition today, one would need to take into consideration the cultural background and location of the individual. In April of 1630, traveling across the Atlantic on board the sailing vessel Arbella, the original American Dream was a community sense of hope and prosperity among English Puritans seeking a new beginning in New England.
Nevidjon, B., & Erickson, J. (31 January, 2001). The Nursing Shortage: Solutions for the Short
Is education necessary in becoming successful and achieving the American Dream? Many Americans ponder on whether an education is needed, to grasp the American Dream. Some even doubt that such a dream, is no longer achievable, but what those doubters do not know and comprehend is that, by becoming educated, the American Dream is very much real and obtainable. Not only will an education offer higher income paying jobs and more job opportunities, which will get a person closer on reaching the American Dream, but it will also create a much healthier lifestyle for the individual and their family.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013, April). The U.S. nursing workforce: Trends in supply and education. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/nursingworkforce/nursingworkforcefullreport.pdf
Achieving the American Dream has been the ideal for people living in the United States for decades. People believed that the way to get there was through hard work, also known as the “Protestant work ethic”. The American Dream can vary depending on the person. Some people think that owning a house with a white picket-fence is the American Dream while others think that it is becoming a celebrity with a lot of money.
Many people assume that the America does not provide access to the American dream because it can be difficult to achieve, but just because something is difficult does not make it impossible. Eric Thomas once said “All roads that lead to success have to pass through hard work boulevard at some point.” This shows that throughout life, sometimes you will have to go through a hard part, and work hard. The United States still provides access to the American dream, even though different people have different ways for how they want to live out their American dream.
Decisions matter, in the play Death of A Salesman, our playwright, Arthur Miller, compares Willy Loman, a carefree father who seems childlike, and Charley, on the other hand, is a kindhearted man of few words who is equipped for the real world. Both Willy and Charley long for the American Dream but on their journey there they go down completely separate paths. Throughout the play, Willy Loman proceeds with various decisions that are not in the best interest for him or his family. Meanwhile Charley only does what is best for his family and his friends. Although Willy and Charley are both fathers who care for their children, not everyone can get the American Dream.
As individuals, we have our own ideas of what the American Dream consists of. To some it may be the realm of possibilities, while to others it may be fame and fortune. America is the only country in which the idea of a national dream has been continually upheld, and we have been a model for other nations to follow. Foreigners have come here to live the dream, and all the while Americans are still struggling to find it. As we continue to search high and low for how to find or how we can buy the dream and make it a reality, Americans have promiscuously thrown their money around in hopes of obtaining the dream and consequently are broke and more miserable than ever. Does the American Dream actually exist, and if so, is there really a way to achieve or acquire it after all these years of unrelenting pursuit?
The term American Dream was initially set by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of American which was written in 1931. In the book, James Truslow Adams (1931) stated that the American Dream was a dream of having a land to stay; each person had a better, richer and more fulfilling life, and those who had the ability or achievement were always full of opportunities. In the video of the American Dream, it assumes that is also a belief that as long as the American do a hard struggle, they will be able to achieve the idea of a successful life. It’s suitable to say in the 21st century in some specific example but not all situation. (Citation) In addition, American Dream existed long before the words created. In the colonial period, the immigrants
To do what makes oneself happy. The American Dream is represented in many different ways and every person lives and chases a different version of the American Dream. Chris McCandless lived his American dream by walking alone into the wilderness of Alaska. The song written by Toby Keith, “American Soldier”, shows the price some pay for their dreams and ours to come true. Jay Gatsby died trying to acheive his dream and get the girl he loved, but died happy because he had pursued her until his death. The band All Time Low wrote a song called “The Reckless and The Brave” that brings a new light to how we go about achieving our dreams. So I believe that the American Dream is all about doing what will make you the happiest in the end.
The United States was once at the top of its game when it came to the education, the United States, provided for the people and that is what brought many people to the United States to achieve what is now called “The American Dream.” But little by little that has changed. The countries that were once below us in mass education have seemed to surpass us and have somehow taken a huge leap forward while the United States stays behind, causing the American Dream to slowly slip away. Now the American Dream is exactly what it sounds like; just a dream.
“REGISTERED NURSES AND NURSE PRACTITIONERS.” Labor Market Information. 2002. Employment Development Department. 12 Feb 2008 http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov./file/occguide/NURSEREG. HTM.
The American Dream is a personal thing. Every person’s belief or thought on what the American Dream is different than anybody else’s. There is one noticeable common thread between every conceivable Dream though: the dream is to live a better life socially, monetarily, or contentedly than your parents did. The conflicts at the time helps determine what aspect of life you wish to improve upon, but it will always be the same principal as long as America stands free.
The saying “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps,” is a common one here in the United States. There is a stigma here that if one works hard enough, they can be anyone they want to be. A lot of people who believe that stigma, did not actually have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. They were born on third base and think they hit a triple. According to an article in the Huffington Post, the richest one percent holds 46 percent of the world’s wealth. This one percent includes people such as the Walton children, the inheritors of the money made from Wal-Mart, which was created by their father (“Richest 1 Percent Hold”). It is pretty obvious that they did not have to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, that these people barely had to work at all to receive a huge sum of money. But, then there is the opposite side of the spectrum. There are people who work incredibly hard every single day of their lives, but will forever be stuck in a life of poverty. Some may look at this huge problem and think of an easy solution. Just have rich people give their money to poor people. A common idea, also known as charity. Though, when given a deeper look, charity can sometimes be the same concept as putting a bandage on a bullet wound.
“Charity sees the need, not the cause.” (German Proverb) Many people may question “What is charity?” According to Webster’s dictionary, Charity is defined as the benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity. Charity to me is significant because it gives you a feeling of inner satisfaction while helping out your community as well. If you have the capability, then you should be able to share it with those less fortunate. The community we live in has a huge influence on us personally – it fosters safety, responsibility and sustainability – so it is important that we take our community seriously for the greater good of humanity and for our own personal benefit.