The American Dream is the belief that anyone in the United States can achieve success regardless of their background. As unemployment rates rise, along with prices for homes and products due to tariffs, Chamblee students are divided on if the American Dream is still possible.

“[It is] easier and harder at the same time [to achieve the American Dream]. Some things are harder because prices have gone up, but at the same time, it’s easier because as time passes, technology advances,” said Diego Vasquez D Paola (‘26). “ Historically, what might happen coming to America [is] you bring five children with you, three are going to die on the boat, and another’s going to get cholera as soon as you arrive. That doesn’t happen anymore.” 

On the other hand, some students believe that the American Dream is within reach because of the opportunities everyone is given.

“I think it’s attainable because I’ve been given many opportunities, I’m doing what I can, and I want to be successful,” said Nicholas Cox (‘26). “One of [those opportunities] would be going to the Air Force summer seminar. Another would be the Governor’s Honors Program, [which] I did for German, and I also did a camp at the Ohio State University at the Center for Automotive Research.” 

Others think it is possible since they themselves immigrated to America. 

“Given that I came to the country with not much, and I’m here next to y’all who were born here, [I do believe it’s possible],” said Vasquez D Paola. 

Some students believe chances to achieve the American Dream is determined by two factors: putting in enough effort and determining what they truly want.

“[Hard work] is a part of it, and people also have to define success in their own words because for different people, success would be different. Not everyone has to be a CEO of a company to be successful or happy,” said Cox. 

Others believe factors such as race and gender impact a person’s chances of achieving the American Dream. 

“I am a white guy, so I think it would be easier for me,” said Simao John Fogle Ferreira (‘28). “Race, class, gender, and sexual orientation are going to keep you down.”

Some would even say the American Dream, currently, is impossible. 

“The American Dream is dead because when I was younger, my grandparents would always glorify how it was back then, how you could buy a house for under five thousand dollars, and it sounded like a dream,” said Anna Sallach (‘26). “But nowadays, the economy is so horrible… I don’t expect myself in the future [to have] a family or anything like that because I know I wouldn’t be able to afford it.” 

Others believe problems with the economy affect the probability of achieving the American Dream.

“I think it could be [more] attainable… if the economy wasn’t bad right now, or if Trump would let the immigrants stay in,” said Ava Pyron (‘27).

That being said, some feel governments should be thoroughly involved with the process of attaining the American Dream to make it more achievable. 

“I think the government should do everything within its power to help its citizens achieve the American Dream,” said Lawrence Wiggins (‘26). “Everybody should have the basic set of needs to live to establish an equal playing field.”

While some others prefer alternative solutions, they do support government action to help. 

“The only way to achieve that general prosperity would be universal basic income and public healthcare [because] it’s really hard to make money. You could argue money is the problem, but short of global communism, we can’t eliminate that yet,” said Ferreira. “I don’t think any person should ever have to pay for food, housing, healthcare, or education. It’s crazy to suggest that they cost money because that’s the bare necessity you would need.”

While the Green New Deal, a new legislative framework proposed by Democrats, has created jobs and reduced greenhouse gas output, according to a 2024 Earthjustice article, others, including Senator Mike Lee, believe that those policies were a poor choice.

“The problem [with the Green New Deal] is the amount of jobs we have in the energy sector that go into fossil fuels. That’s kind of how the American Dream starts,” said Vasquez D Paola. “Not everyone comes here and immediately becomes a doctor or lawyer. You get manual labor jobs; then, that wealth comes around so that the kids can get into the more white collar jobs, but the Green New Deal takes away blue-collar jobs.”

But some students believe there are not enough resources for everyone, even if everyone is employed.

“There’s just not enough to go around for everyone to have their dream,” said Wiggins. 

To some, the social mobility given by the American Dream is both why people come to America and why it is only possible in America.

“It’s called the ‘American’ Dream, so there is something fundamentally American about it,” said Vasquez D Paola. “America is the only country that actually gives you the opportunity to do it; in, say, Uganda, you can’t get the American Dream.”

To some, the idea of the American Dream centers around being able to do what you love.

“In my mind, the true American Dream is just living comfortably, having a comfortable amount of money in a working economy, and for work, just pursuing your passion, and everyone being passionate about what they work for,” said Pyron.