The romantic idea of ​​the American dream is in a period of change. While it represented an ideal lifestyle that every citizen could achieve if they worked hard enough, that lifestyle is becoming a difficult reality for most Americans to achieve. Timothy Egan wrote that living the American dream meant being able to “buy new cars, take decent vacations, and enjoy all the benefits of health care” (106). Owning a home, a spouse, and a few children are also commonly described in the American Dream, as is having a job you can feel proud of. Today, living the American dream isn't just about working hard. A higher education is becoming a necessity if you want to rise above your position. Egan states that years before a college degree was not necessary to have a comfortable life, but nowadays without a college degree it is nearly impossible to earn a salary that can support all the ideals of the American dream (106). For this reason, a person born into a wealthy family has a much better chance of continuing to live a comfortable life, while a person born into poverty or a lower class may not have the means to receive an education and therefore be left behind. out of American