By Tasbiha Fatima Hasan  

Writer/Reporter 

When I first heard the phrase “The American Dream,” it wasn’t in a movie or on television. It was in my Intensive Writing 122 class during my 2nd year as an international student in the United States. Coming from Pakistan, the phrase was unfamiliar to me. We explored it as a literary theme, an idea that generations of writers had questioned, celebrated, and criticized. At the time, it felt like a concept from history rather than something I would one day experience firsthand. 

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, I find myself asking that same question again, not as a student reading about America, but as someone living in it. 

The answer is neither simple nor absolute. 

Many Americans today feel uncertain about the future. Rising housing costs, student debt, political polarization, economic inequality, and rapid technological changes have left many wondering whether the promise of opportunity is slipping away. Headlines often paint a picture of division rather than unity, and for some, the American Dream feels more distant than ever. 

Yet, there is another side to the story. 

As an international student, I have encountered opportunities that I never imagined when I first arrived. Professors who encouraged my curiosity, classmates from around the world, research opportunities, leadership positions, scholarships, and the chance to write for a university newspaper have all become part of my journey. None of these experiences came easily, but they reminded me that opportunity still exists for those willing to pursue it. 

Perhaps that is where the American Dream has changed. 

For earlier generations, it was often measured by owning a home, securing a stable job, and providing a better life for one’s children. Today, the dream is more personal. For some, it means launching a business. For others, it means becoming the first in their family to graduate from college, building a career in science or technology, or simply finding the freedom to choose their own path. 

“America is another name for opportunity.” 
— Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The American Dream has never guaranteed success. Rather, it has represented the possibility that hard work, education, and perseverance can open doors. Whether those doors are equally accessible to everyone remains an ongoing national conversation. 

As the United States enters its 250th year, it stands among the world’s oldest continuously operating constitutional democracies. That milestone is worth celebrating not because the nation is perfect, but because it has endured through wars, economic crises, social movements, and moments of profound disagreement. America’s history has been defined by its ability to debate, adapt, and strive toward a more perfect union. 

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” 
— Eleanor Roosevelt 

For me, the American Dream is no longer just an academic concept discussed in a classroom. It has become something more nuanced. It is neither a myth nor a guarantee. It is a work in progress shaped by resilience, opportunity, and the willingness to keep moving forward despite uncertainty. 

At 250 years old, the United States faces significant challenges. But anniversaries are not only moments to celebrate the past; they are opportunities to ask difficult questions about the future. 

Perhaps the most important question is not whether the American Dream still exists. 

It is whether each new generation is willing to redefine it and ensure that the dream remains within reach for those who come searching for it, just as countless people have for nearly two and a half centuries. In the end, the best way to predict your future is to create it.