QUESTION: What is the American Dream?
The American Dream is this idea of making something of yourself. I think in the end for most people, its about being very wealthy. People value wealth as equating it to success in their life paths.
QUESTION: What is your American Dream?
My American Dream is heavily invested in the film industry. Hopefully, I’ll become an Oscar award winner. The idea of gaining status and wealth, but also being able to give back to communities. Ultimately, I want to have a job that makes me happy.
QUESTION: How has living abroad affected your American Dream?
I spent all of high school in an international school in Western Europe and it really made me take a step back from America and think about it as a system. Whereas before I was fully ingrained in it and I didn’t really know what any other culture was like and the idea a future living there. For me, seeing America for the success stories shown in the media , but it’s not really accessible for everyone. Going to my international high school made me realize that I did want to return back to America. I’ve always been interested in film and its the only thing that I’d be happy doing.
On one hand, I love America and I love the ideals, but at the same time with everything that’s going on there, I feel more disconnected from the country that I once knew.
On one hand, I love America and I love the ideals, but at the same time with everything that’s going on there, I feel more disconnected from the country that I once knew. I’m very worried that America will turn toward fascism and not be as stable as it once was and that does make me second guess if do want to return. I definitely see the presidential election results playing a big role.
QUESTION: The film industry is primarily based in the United Sates, but do you think that you would go to another country to pursue your American Dream?
I think if I see things getting really bad (in the United States) and I see that there are other options out there, I would definitely take it.
N is…
- 20 years-old
- Male, Cisgender
- White
- Jewish
- Upper Middle Class
- Gay
Author’s Note
I interviewed my friend N. He is a junior majoring in the field on public communications and he is currently at home in Eastern Europe. N spent the first half of his life in New York and the later half in Eastern Europe. He has experienced different cultures outside of the United States and I wanted to interview him to see if he views the American Dream differently since he grew up in a two different cultures.