Why I still believe in the American Dream

Most young people don't think they're better off than their parents, but some still believe their own personal American Dream is in reach.

Dreaming of... financial stability
Dreaming of... financial stability
Jaiquann Beckham, 20
Radnor, Penn.

People tell me, 'Jaiquann, go to college, get married, buy a house, buy a car.'

I believe that kind of stuff, but personally, I believe the American dream is more just about being happy.

For me, I hope it's about waking up everyday and going to a job that I love. Right now, I'm a junior at Cabrini College, studying special education. I hope that by the time I graduate in 2013, the unemployment levels will be lower, and I'll be able to find a job.

I'd also like to be financially free, and I believe I can achieve this dream by continuing to educate myself about saving and investing money.


By Annalyn Censky @CNNMoney - Last updated December 12 2011: 8:38 AM ET
Join the Conversation
Are you better off than mom and dad?

Today's young women make $1.17 for every $1 their moms earned back in 1980. Young men, however, aren't so lucky when it comes to the American Dream.

Most Popular
 
 
 
 
 

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.