For many Americans, the notion of the classic American Dream is a varied narrative that differs based on geographic areas, patterns of upbringing, lifestyle choices, and most importantly, the individual identities that affect their everyday lives. For A, the current Director of Programmatic Development at a university in California, her American Dream depicts itself in a way that is unique to her identities and means of personal representation. A, a 37-year-old woman from California, identifies as bisexual and upper-middle class; additionally, she has type 1 diabetes.
Q: Which identity of yours has mostly/greatly affected your life?
A: “Type 1 diabetes affected me in making sure that I was always prepared when I was leaving the house and thinking for more than a second about what I was putting in my mouth, and just really being in touch with my body. You know, trying to guess what my blood sugar was. I think there’s a lot of people who don’t really develop that skill to read their bodies until much later in life.”
Q: Based on your individual experiences, what is your personal definition of the American Dream?
A: “A big word that comes to mind is flexibility; the ability to choose your own path or if you want it chosen for you. Just thinking back on my life, I wanted to choose what I wanted to do career-wise and do something that would be fulfilling and intellectually satisfying. And that once I was ready to move on, to have the flexibility to choose my next path.”
Q: Would you say the classic idea of the American Dream is still alive today? How is it different?
A: “I’m sure it’s still alive, but I don’t see it in practice as much as the previous generation did. It’s not as followed to a tee as it might have been in the past. It’s much more diverse.”
Q: A big part of the American Dream is the idea of “climbing up the ladder” to success. Do you think that the American Dream can also be based on your character or behavior, or do you think we lose some of that in the process?
A: “I think that character is a must-have. If you don’t have character, even if you’re perfect on paper, you’re not going to get the job. It’s definitely really underplayed when talking about the American Dream. You can have much less relevant experience for a position and still beat out the other candidate if you have that trust factor.”
Q: Would you say you achieved your American Dream?
A: “I definitely feel accomplished. I have a lot more career left in me and I really want to learn more in different sectors and industries, so I’m not there yet. I would say I’m happy with my career choices and the flexibility and benefits that I have, but I am always on the lookout for the next possible opportunity. However, there is no way that I’ll feel like I conquered it all or learned enough; there is always so much more to learn.”
A is…
- 37 Years-Old
- Female, Cisgender
- White
- Agnostic
- Upper Middle Class
- Bisexual
Author’s Note
This brief discussion with A brings to light that while the American Dream still stands strong today, it appears in varying forms and maintains flexibility throughout individuals’ lifetimes, adapting to each identity they ring true, as well as the means they have to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.