Zachary Lloyd
New Member
Runnin thru the six with my woes
Posts: 26 
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Post by Zachary Lloyd on Feb 1, 2016 13:23:01 GMT
this is an ORIGINAL TOPIC, i am sure.
Where to begin? I feel that the American Dream is a difficult beast, but I will try to highlight its existence in no where else but the education system in our country (Yuck!!).
When we first start school, we have no idea of the challenges we will face as we progress through up to college and then beyond. Our mindset is that we are there because we have to be, not because one day our schooling will help us attain the closest thing we will ever know to the American Dream. However, as time goes on, we are actually taught of the American Dream, and of the lucky minority who, to us in the education system, seem like an overwhelming majority of successful Americans. This teaching plants the seed: that no matter where you physically come from, you can succeed, and that living in America today puts you in a better place than anyone else ever in the history of the world. Maybe I used a hyperbole there, but you get the gist.
From there, that idea grows into a vastly tall and rather invasive tree. The anxiety that kids might feel when selecting a college or choosing a career path stems from this desire to meet the American Dream, an equivalent to success in their eyes. When we can't seem to do well in school or we get rejected from our dream college, we feel like this American Dream is farther than ever before, but yet it keeps us going. We labor on still, go to a college or trade school, just to go into working 40 hours a week so we can uncover the American Dream.
Is it worth it, all that toil? Are we ever really capable of attaining this dream? Who knows. Water is a major key.
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ruchi
New Member
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Post by ruchi on Feb 2, 2016 3:20:01 GMT
Hey Zach, I agree that this is an original topic (for sure)... and also think that you make some great points. For one, our perception of early education, no doubt originally a hindrance to us, transforms more into a gift when we realize how incredibly privileged we actually are. And as we are rounding the point in our lives where we start to think about the future, our perception of success is also starting to transform. Right now, more than ever, many of us want to get into college. Why? College = degree = job. Oh and it also results in a rather large student debt and our early twenties. But that's just how the world runs now. So is it worth it? I think so. According to this situation, in theory any person of any background who works hard enough and can fund themselves through college are sure to gain an incredible education in any career area of our choice, and are much more likely to land a job of their respective choice.
But this is a rather naive standpoint. (And I just wanted to bring up another point.) The situation I mentioned above assumes that the playing ground for everyone starts off equal, which we know it is most certainly not. Different factors, like money, opportunity, and early education all are essential to getting to college. Difficulty in just one area can eliminate or greatly hinder your chances of going to college. So yes, I do think that college is a greatly used stepping stone for the success needed for the American Dream, but I don't think everyone is given an equal opportunity to use it. So is there a way other than college to achieve the Dream?
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Post by ashen99 on Feb 5, 2016 4:47:47 GMT
When we first start school, we have no idea of the challenges we will face as we progress through up to college and then beyond. Our mindset is that we are there because we have to be, not because one day our schooling will help us attain the closest thing we will ever know to the American Dream. However, as time goes on, we are actually taught of the American Dream, and of the lucky minority who, to us in the education system, seem like an overwhelming majority of successful Americans. This teaching plants the seed: that no matter where you physically come from, you can succeed, and that living in America today puts you in a better place than anyone else ever in the history of the world. Maybe I used a hyperbole there, but you get the gist. From there, that idea grows into a vastly tall and rather invasive tree. The anxiety that kids might feel when selecting a college or choosing a career path stems from this desire to meet the American Dream, an equivalent to success in their eyes. When we can't seem to do well in school or we get rejected from our dream college, we feel like this American Dream is farther than ever before, but yet it keeps us going. We labor on still, go to a college or trade school, just to go into working 40 hours a week so we can uncover the American Dream. Is it worth it, all that toil? Are we ever really capable of attaining this dream? Who knows. Water is a major key. Zach, that was a very insightful post about how education and the American Dream are intertwined. We go to school because it provides skills that should theoretically help us succeed in the future. However, I do think that the extent that school helps students is exaggerated. People can be very successful even if they didn't excel in school. This is most likely because it has become very ingrained into our heads about the importance of grades, which doesn't translate to the real-world that much. Of course, that doesn't mean school is useless. For many people, going to college enables people to live a decent life. However, others might not be very suited to the school environment but can ultimately find other passions that can help achieve the American Dream. This situation is therefore another way to illustrate how society perceives the Dream is a little misguided. Many college graduates don't know what to do with their lives, so sometimes education isn't always effective. |
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Post by Ms. McGettigan on Feb 5, 2016 13:28:04 GMT
Great conversation guys- thanks for bringing this up, Zach! Do we pursue higher education for knowledge, experience, to be well-rounded people? Maybe some people. But most go to college in order to get a good job and make money- pretty much what the American Dream has devolved into. But as you guys point out, it's obviously not a sure thing. What else do you need to achieve this illusive "American Dream" of money, success, etc?
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Post by hannahcherusseril on Feb 7, 2016 0:28:30 GMT
Ms.McGettigan, I feel like the American dream should not only be about what you do with your own life, but what you do in other people's lives. That's where the education system can be confusing. In shcool, we often are so forced to focus on how we will be successful that we forget that we are here to fulifll our role and help out in the world (think back to Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing"). While you should work hard to make yourself the best of the best in whatever path you choose to take, I feel that if you haven't used your abilities to contribute to the world around you, then you haven't really fulfilled the dream. It doesn't need to be direct, but making your mark on the world and leaving your legacy with people is confirmation that you have taken your happiness and hard work and have spread it. It's an indicator that you have not taken your success and have become selfish with it. Greed was the flaw of people like Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Their need to preserve their lavish life was the only reason they kept their marriage from falling apart. In the end, it's clear that they are shallow characters. So, in order to achieve the "American Dream", I think it is important to make sure we make an imprint on the people around us for the better. You have the privilege to be so successful and it can all be taken away in a moment. Use your skills and/or education to perpetuate good rather than consolidating it all to yourself.
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Post by g00dva1b5 on Feb 7, 2016 22:47:55 GMT
Mrs. McGettigan, I believe that a good work ethic is the most important thing needed to achieve the "American Dream". While a student may have the ability and resources (e.g. enough money) to go into a top tier college, a bad work ethic may disallow that student to receive high grades or cause that student to miss important deadlines. Outside of the education system, a bad work ethic may cause a person to miss job opportunities or be fired from a job. While it could be argued that the definition of the "American Dream" is to be happy, and some people are contempt with their laziness, I think it is vital to have a good work ethic if one is to define the "American Dream" as rising in rank or just plainly making money.
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Post by sfarmand on Feb 8, 2016 0:47:20 GMT
Hannah, I agree that a positive contribution to society is the most important thing a person can do in a lifetime. As we are only mortal, the only parts of us that remain after we die are our legacy and contributions. In our eternal quest to be immortal, affecting other people is the only way to ensure that our lives have some sort of impact and meaning. This contribution does not have to be significant if means do not allow it to be, even helping one person to overcome a barrier is a contribution that has helped humanity in some way.
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Post by jesswang on Feb 8, 2016 4:27:47 GMT
Ms. McGettigan, I think the key to achieving the American Dream is versatility. Whether it's in school, college, or out in the real world, you must be adaptable in order to seize opportunities and forge your way to success. I think so many of us have set a certain path of high school - college - decently paying job - white picket fence - American Dream, that we often overlook opportunities that might bring us on a different, yet also ultimately successful path to life and the American Dream. It's this versatility and ability to adapt in different situations that will allow us to survive in the real world, not just our intelligence or our college degree. It's never a bad thing to plan out your life and go on a path that makes you happy, but it's also not bad to take risks and seize opportunities that might seem out of your comfort zone. As high school kids who are told we have to decide what we want to do for the rest of our lives at age 16, we should remember this and realize that a successful life isn't determined by the paths we set for ourselves before we're even adults.
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Zachary Lloyd
New Member
Runnin thru the six with my woes
Posts: 26
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Post by Zachary Lloyd on Feb 9, 2016 15:25:18 GMT
@allyouretardswhosupportsocialism, Socialism encourages people to be more lazy. It makes being poor more appealing so people will have less drive and less ambition to succeed. People know the government will catch them when they fall, so they don't bother trying. You can see in nearly if not all of the socialist countries in Europe, the unemployment rate is much higher. Capitalism and social darwinism is a must for all modern economies and people to succeed. It is not meant for everyone to be rich or everyone to succeed. This is impossible. You just have to do what YOU can to make sure YOU succeed. Quick question, are you five years old? You certainly act like it. I am in favor of everyone having their own ideas, and expressing them, but the way you did it is childish at best. Sorry you have a low-enough self esteem to not be able to tag your own name to your thoughts. It must be difficult to live a life where you are too afraid to take responsibility for your opinions and actions. I hope you have a good day, because that is who I am, but I also want you to think about what you said and be more respectful and adultlike next time around. |
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