Jade ManningAugust 22, 2024 Teens in Print
Growing up my idea of the “American dream” was getting your first car at 16, going to college (or moving out) at 18, one day being able to buy a house, getting to go someplace beautiful at least once a year, and still having money for at least two weeks worth of groceries. But in recent years, as I grew up, what that idea means has completely changed.
Investopedia defines “‘The American dream’ as the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone.” I think that captures the raw meaning in such a beautiful way and also captures the American spirit.
However, the American dream, by that definition, is continuously being affected daily by inflation, everything from food to clothes to houses — the rise and demand for everything is at an all-time high. At the same time, job hunting and acceptance rates are at an all-time low. Before the election in 2020, the inflation rate was at a stable increase of 3.9% percent each year; a study in March of 2024 showed food prices have gone up to almost 26%, not including taxes.
People are one medical bill away from homelessness. The average nuclear family is living on one income because one or both providers have lost a job or can’t even find one. U.S. bankreports “At the end of June 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 8.2 million job openings in the U.S., compared to 7.2 million unemployed persons.” That means there are more jobs than unemployed people but that doesn’t tell the full story as many people have been sharing their stories online of how they are perfectly or overqualified but still can’t get hired.
A content creator by the name of Lohanny tells her story of how she graduated college with two degrees and the ability to speak three languages. She recounts how she applied for minimum wage jobs but was still turned down, and about how the jobs she applied to didn’t even look at her resume before turning her away.
In an opinion article by Penny Redlin, she states “thoughtfully evaluating every penny spent and how the loss of that money today will impact other wants and needs in the future is critical. Our behaviors can be holding us back and keeping us from realizing the new American Dream.” But I believe that everyone should live comfortably and have the luxury of being able to buy something at least once a day (within reason) and not have to contemplate or be anxious about each purchase.
The Pew Research Center did a study on who still believes in the American Dream and who used to believe in it. “Today, about half of Americans (53%) say that dream is still possible. Another 41% say the American dream was once possible for people to achieve – but is not anymore. And 6% say it was never possible.” I personally never believed in the possibility of the American dream. The only reason why it was feasible, or seemingly so, is because of how the government-controlled public perception. Technology was new, but just even more recently social media platforms have lifted the veil between the government and society to be used as a way to spread information far and wide. When there was no easy or fast way to communicate, no phones, no way to see or hear information outside of the confines of local news, or what the government chose to put out, the American dream was marketed to the masses as an attainable lifestyle.
Today, I see and hear countless stories of applicants never hearing back from job interviews. I personally have been turned down and ignored for jobs countless times. It is not unreasonable to note that everyone is not always qualified for everything, but I’ve applied to jobs from fast food to convenience stores. One could assume that as a high school student, I am not under nor am I overqualified to work in a McDonald’s drive-through. This is a growing issue that affects not only my generation but some if not most of the ones before me.
While reversing the effects of inflation may seem impossible, we need to at least shine a light on the issue to save our generation and protect the next. Perceptions and unrealistic expectations about life in relation to the economy today are also holding the younger generations back. People need to know that it is okay to not get a car at 16, or a job at 18, we push these ideals that rush and put stress on kids and use the past as justification. That’s not okay. If we let people take their time, and help them to achieve then maybe the original dream with the white house picket fence won’t be revived but a new dream will be put in its place. One where people can achieve their dream, whatever that looks like in their own eyes.