The American dream. The concept that everyone, no matter who they are, can have equal opportunities within the United States. Though times have changed, the American Dream has still survived.

     The concept has shifted as the United States has gone through many changes in history. From the abolishment of slavery in 1865, to the crash of the stock market in 1929 and the various decisions of the Supreme Court over the years. All in the name of progress and to satisfy the line in the Declaration of Independence that “…among [the rights that every person is born with] are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

     Over time, these changes have reaffirmed the meaning of the American dream through explicitly ensuring that each and every person, no matter their appearance or personal belief, has equal access to various opportunities. But is it still possible after all of this time? The answer is yes.

    There are, of course, some doubts about the vision. Many factors within the United States are to blame for this, such as a corrosive political environment, a defaulting economy caused by the overwhelming national debt and more. Additionally, the system of immigration proves as a daunting challenge against those who wish to become citizens of the United States due to its lengthy process. 

     Yet, a person who is a citizen of the United States is guaranteed their own rights and freedoms within the Constitution, such as the freedoms within the first nine amendments. People can freely pursue whatever career they want, from becoming an actor or a zoologist. People can even earn a living without having to go through the conventional means of finding a job by starting their own business. It gives a sense of control over one’s destiny as life in the United States has granted its population with multiple pathways of opportunities.

     “To me the American dream is coming to this land and being able to make something out of nothing,” junior Alexey Bass said. “My parents came here with literally nothing and built a life for themselves.”

     With the American Dream also comes its universal definition: it applies to every American. Yet we all are not the same. For years, the United States has been and still is a melting pot, a blend of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs from all over the world. Not only that, not every person has the same mindset.

     “The technicality of the American dream is that it’s more towards our interpretations,” U.S. government teacher Jessika Lozada said. “So my American dream can be completely different from yours or from another student or teacher because we all have different interpretations.”

     Everyone in this country has something that they are working towards, whether it is seeking asylum, finding jobs or reuniting with family. We all have different goals with different obstacles to hurdle over. The American Dream is still there though, lying in the many days ahead.

     “The American dream is changing but it’s never going to end,” English teacher Deborah Anderson said. “Everyone who comes into this country wants the betterment of something, and most times it’s the freedom to enjoy life.”