The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, New York

Britannica

Rewriting the American Dream

BY HELEN AN

MARCH 4, 2026

For years, the United States of America has built a reputation as being the place where all those who come to it are promised success. History textbooks describe immigrants arriving at Ellis Island as those who have come to find a purpose in the "promised land,” trying to escape the horrors their home country may have endured. Bold claims, such as these, have always been part of the foundation of this nation. Recently, questions have arisen as to whether the promised land has lived up to the reputation it built, and whether the American Dream is even attainable. 

With consideration of recent events, such as questions regarding immigration enforcement, voting restrictions, and tensions with foreign countries, citizens make the argument that they are being restricted from their fundamental rights. This restriction of rights can spiral into limitations of not being able to succeed. For many immigrants, the American Dream died when America lost the desire to give them an environment in which to succeed. 

When asked about the state of the current American Dream and how this changes the way youth plan for the future, here’s what students had to say: 

EBHS Sophomore Ella Ly said, “I feel like everybody used to have very standard expectations in which people felt they had to fit into a norm to be a part of society. Recently, I think the American Dream has changed for the better, with people not thinking about having to obey societal expectations, allowing everyone to pursue individual aspirations rather than seeking validation. As a youth in today's society, this makes me more motivated to work hard toward my goals.”

EBHS Senior Jacob Toledo said, “I feel like the idea of the American Dream that other people are still thinking of has become outdated, and my impression of it has changed over time as well. At first, it felt like coming to America made it easy for anyone to succeed, but now it feels like that level of success has been hard to attain. However, if someone has the drive to succeed, they can do so anywhere, not just in America, and that will be far more rewarding than any American Dream. This gives me the impression that the American Dream that was once only achievable here is spreading worldwide.”

As America and the world continue to evolve, the same perfect idea of “American success” is not going to be the same for everyone in terms of what this success looks like and how long it takes to get there.  The American Dream is undeniably for everyone, but success can no longer depend solely on a country, and a country’s reputation will not be based on what they claim, but rather on how they exhibit these claims.