As according to Jenna McMains
Having the opportunity to achieve any goals that you set out with the assistance of a supportive community which leads to a feeling of satisfaction while remaining both physically and emotionally healthy.
Wealth
As according to Jenna McMains
Either tangible or intangible possessions of either material or emotional value.
American attitudes toward wealth and poverty {and my own}
As according to Jenna McMains
Americans value wealth immensely and the most common form that they value is material and monetary wealth. Americans relate poverty to not only a lack of wealth but also a lack of opportunities and intelligence. Americans associate wealth directly and proportionally with wealth. The context of these Americans is that they have only known wealth as compared to the world. For example, I want to become a surgeon {a career that affords you a nice salary} but I want to spend the majority of my life involved with doctors without borders {which doesn't exactly pay at all}. The majority of Americans both old and young thing I am crazy and that soon I will grow up and lose that dream. That I will decide to keep a real job and not waste my {hopefully future} talents. It is a common belief that happiness and wealth go hand in hand. For my travels I have learned that this is not necessarily true. I have seen children and families with so much less materialistic wealth than Americans but just the same amount of happiness or even more. I don't really care if I end up wealthy or poor but I do care that I use my life to help others. Now maybe I will smarten up and become stingier with the time I choose to donate but I can't see that happening any time soon. I believe that I have the American Dream because I have the chance to be or do almost anything that I want. I also have the support of my parents, teachers, and many community members. But, many believe that the word "dream" connotates passive words and actions such as sleeping, daydreaming, thinking but I think the opposite. I have worked towards my dream. I have studied at school, participated in events, joined clubs, and spent way too much thinking and planning and working towards my American Dream. My American Dream is not a passive one it is highly active. This is because not only of my innate beliefs but also because of my learned beliefs. My context and environment has taught me to work for what I want and to have perseverance.
Hey Jenna! This was an awesome read. Your post touched my heart, and I appreciate what you want to do in the future. I don't think you're crazy; in fact, I think quite the opposite. Helping others is completely sane, not to mention compassionate, generous, and empathetic. I already see those qualities in you today, so I have no doubt you will work hard to achieve this dream or whatever else it may turn into. Great post, and thanks for being you!
ReplyDeleteI think it is really important to incorporate physical health in the American Dream definition. Many jobs that citizens of the United States are doing are very labor intensive and hard on the body. I think physical health is over looked when it comes to having wealth. If someone has money and is not able to enjoy because they are no longer able bodied because the work they had to complete to obtain that wealth was so intense on their body what good was it. I really liked the opinions your incorporated in this post as well as the graphics. The survey chart graphic was really cool to see what Americans thought about what was important to their definition of the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteJenna, I loved this post! I definitely agree that monetary wealth does not guarantee happiness. There is the saying that "money can't buy happiness" and it is true. I admire you for your ability to put others needs before your own personal monetary wealth. Don't let the haters tell you that you shouldn't take a job that doesn't pay much. You want to help those in need and that is payment enough! I wish you luck in the future, although I know you won't need it. Great job!!
ReplyDeleteI liked how you talked about money not necessarily guaranteeing happiness because I feel as though this is a major misconception when you look at the typical definition of the the American Dream. I definitely believe that as a Americans we tend to value monetary wealth the most like you mentioned when instead we should focus more on self and social wealth. I also really liked the graph that you included as I found it neat that only 23% of Americans considered achieving affluence as important. Overall, I really liked your post and good work!
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