Recently, people have been thinking about whether their kid will ever be able to go to college or have a stable life after high school. The American Dream is defined as: being able to achieve a goal you have always wanted to achieve, long-term or short-term. Parents that are Gen X to Millennials have often viewed the American Dream as getting a new house, starting a new career, or even getting married and starting a family. With the prices of college going up, housing prices going up drastically, and jobs at fast food places underpaying their workers, I think that the American Dream will be unachievable by when the class of 2030 graduates.

The prices of college have been rising very fast for the past few years. According to Melanie Hanson’s article, “College Tuition Inflation Rate” (published September 9, 2024), “From 2010-2011 to 2022-2023, the average annual tuition inflation rate at a public 4-year college was 2.64%. Over that same period, tuition increased 36.7%.” This demonstrates that if a teenager’s American Dream was to go to college, the prices will continue to rise before they can apply. Many of us will not be able to afford college if our parents keep pushing us to take certain classes, join clubs, and get a job at the same time. As I see, college is the American Dream for most teenagers. My American Dream is to go to college, and I may not be able to because of college prices increasing. 

Another key factor teenagers won’t be able to achieve their American Dream is the lack of money. Most families where I live don’t have a lot of money for college, housing, bills, etc. In the last 40 years, home prices have increased by 423%. (Mitchell Hartman) I am a part of one of these families that don’t make tons of money. My family works paycheck to paycheck, trying to support me and what I want to do in my life.  The majority of people are living like me and don't have access to basic necessities. This demonstrates why, if a teenager's American Dream is to own a house, they more than likely won't because of housing prices and being underpaid or not being able to get a good job.

My generation views success by getting a college degree or starting a family. Some people’s American Dream could also be being able to have more freedom and rights. The old American dream can be demonstrated by getting a stable job and buying a house. The new one could be shown as freedom, getting into your dream college, and to show your creativity to others. Some may argue that they will be able to achieve their American Dream, it will be easy, and it will be effortless. This can be debunked because the current situation of inflation and the rising of prices will affect if you can even afford college or whatever your American Dream is.

In conclusion, I think the American Dream is dead and will never be achievable with the satus of the current economy. If you believe you can achieve your American Dream, go for it. I believe you will be able to achieve anything if you try hard enough.

Works Cited

Claney, Carly. “The Psychological Impact of Parental Pressure on Kids and Teens | Relational Psych.” Www.relationalpsych.group, Relational Psych, 12 Mar. 2024, www.relationalpsych.group/articles/the-psychological-impact-of-parental-pressure-on-kids-and-teens.

Hanson, Melanie. “College Tuition Inflation Rate.” Education Data Initiative, 9 Sept. 2024, educationdata.org/college-tuition-inflation-rate.