"Today, anyone may have a shot at becoming a United States Supreme Court justice or a C.E.O., and there are more and more self-made billionaires"
What a simple statement. The author makes it seem as if though a mere thought can bring about that kind of change in one's life. This article really reinforced a lot of ideas I have about class and "making it" in today's society. The article states that "Americans are arguably more likely than they were 30 years ago to end up in the class into which they were born." So how does someone like Mark Zuckerberg end up as one of the most successful billionaires to date. Granted, Mr. Zuckerberg made it look easy: think of a cool website and let word of mouth take care of the rest, right? Not so simple. I think a combination of skills, willpower, and AMBITION are what it takes to soar to those heights or any height for that matter. If you aim to be a police officer, then you can't really pass a certain salary or expect to find yourself on the Forbes 400 list but you can climb in ranks and recognition and be at the top. Either way, you have to be willing to work for what you want. If you want to be a United Supreme Court Justice, I believe there is a way to do that, a road has already been paved, it's up to you to tread down that road and deal with whatever obstacles come your way. If you can weather through that journey, you can find yourself at the top. I think that goes for anyone from hip-hop moguls like Jay-Z to Playboy millionaire Hugh Hefner to the President of New York Presbyterian Hospital. Everyone has a beginning but everyone seems to have forgotten what the American Dream truly means. It doesn't mean that every American should automatically have a house, a car, etc. It's the work you put into achieving that goal that truly comprises the American Dream...it is the pursuit of happiness that ultimately brings us to our goals and the freedom to pursue your happiness is what the American Dream is. I think anyone can transcend their class, that class isn't a label but a starting point. If you are willing enough to do what it takes to be where you want to be, then class has nothing to do with anything, especially in today's day and age. Well...that's my American Dream.
