The Teenage American Dream | Surina Borbor | TEDxValenciaHighSchool

Summary

The American Dream is redefined by Generation Z, who seek personal freedom, fulfillment, and engaging careers over traditional success. This generation faces challenges like automation and climate change, yet values life skills and networking for independence. Second-generation immigrants, like the speaker, feel the pressure to uphold their parents' sacrifices while forging their own paths. The script highlights the need for teens to be prepared with practical skills and career exploration to achieve their unique version of the American Dream.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The traditional American Dream is often associated with a suburban lifestyle, including a nine-to-five job, a stay-at-home spouse, children, and a dog, all within a structured life path.
• 🔄 Generation Z views the American Dream as personal freedom, fulfillment, and control over their lives, with an engaging career, rather than adhering to a monotonous, traditional lifestyle.
• 🌍 The speaker's experience in New Mexico revealed that teens value a stimulating career, personal relationships, and making a difference in the world, with less emphasis on traditional milestones like marriage and children.
• 🤖 There is a prevalent anxiety among teens about the impact of automation and climate change on their future careers and the world at large.
• 🏡 The speaker's parents exemplify the contemporary American Dream, having immigrated from Iran and achieved homeownership and stability through hard work and education.
• 📚 Second-generation immigrants may feel a sense of obligation to fulfill the dreams their parents had for them, which can create pressure to follow a conventional path of success.
• 📉 There has been a significant decline in marriage rates among American adults, shifting the dynamics of financial and personal stability for young adults.
• 💼 The rise in education requirements and skyrocketing housing prices have made it more challenging for young adults to achieve financial independence and move out of their parents' home.
• 🔙 The term 'Boomerang Kids' describes young adults who return to live with their parents due to financial unpreparedness, a phenomenon exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 🎓 Despite being highly educated, Generation Z and Millennials may still lack basic life skills necessary for personal and financial independence.
• 🛠 The importance of teaching life skills such as cooking, cleaning, time management, and financial literacy is highlighted, as well as the value of early exposure to various career options in school.

Q & A

What is the traditional image of the American Dream described in the script?

The traditional American Dream is depicted as having a suburban neighborhood, a father working a 9-to-5 job, a stay-at-home mother, kids, a dog with a common name like Nala or Cooper, and an iconic white picket fence. It is associated with conventional success, material wealth, and a structured path to adulthood including moving out, getting a job, getting married, having kids, and buying a house, all before the age of 30.

How does Generation Z view the American Dream differently from the traditional view?

Generation Z tends to view the American Dream as having personal freedom and fulfillment, control over their own lives, and an engaging career rather than adhering to the traditional milestones of adulthood.

What opportunity did the speaker have that allowed them to gain insight into the teenage American Dream?

The speaker had the opportunity to go to New Mexico to interview for a foundation that provides scholarships for American students to attend international boarding schools in different countries, meeting teens from various backgrounds across America.

What are some of the career aspirations mentioned by the teens interviewed in the script?

Shadia from South Dakota does not want to be forced into a 9-to-5 job until retirement. An anonymous sophomore from California wants a creative job that cannot be outsourced by robots. Andrew from New York is interested in environmental engineering due to concerns about climate change, and Amara from Ohio wants to shape her own future without adhering to any specific standard.

What underlying anxieties did the speaker pick up on from their peers regarding the future?

The speaker noticed an underlying anxiety about automation and climate change among their peers.

Can you describe the speaker's parents as an example of the Contemporary American Dream?

The speaker's parents are immigrants from Iran who came to America in search of a better life. They worked hard, learned English, got a college education, and became homeowners with two daughters and a Golden Retriever named Nala.

What is the term used for young adults who return to live with their parents after trying to be independent?

These young adults are referred to as 'Boomerang Kids' because they come back to live with their parents after attempting to be independent.

What percentage of American adults were married in the 1960s compared to 2021?

In the 1960s, 72 percent of American adults were married, which had decreased to 52 percent as of 2021.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the living situation of young adults?

The COVID-19 lockdowns worsened the phenomenon of young adults living with their parents, with 60 percent of Americans aged 18 to 25 living with parents or grandparents at the height of the pandemic.

What advice does the speaker give to teens regarding their future and the pursuit of their own version of the American Dream?

The speaker advises teens not to be afraid to carve their own path, to not get too attached to any one image of the future, and to learn life skills such as cooking, cleaning, time management, and financial literacy.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of life skills and career exposure for teens?

The speaker believes that life skills and early exposure to a variety of career options are crucial for teens to find what's right for them in the future and to achieve personal and financial independence.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Redefining the American Dream

This paragraph discusses the evolution of the American Dream among Generation Z. Traditionally, it was associated with a suburban lifestyle, a 9-to-5 job, and a structured path to adulthood. However, today's teens, like Shadia, an anonymous sophomore, Andrew, and Amara, envision a future with personal freedom, creative careers, and the ability to shape their own destiny. They express concerns about automation, climate change, and the desire to make a difference in the world. The speaker, a second-generation immigrant, feels a sense of obligation to fulfill the dream their parents sought when they immigrated to the U.S., yet acknowledges the shift in aspirations among the current generation.

05:01

📚 The Challenges of Modern Adulthood

The second paragraph delves into the challenges faced by young adults in achieving independence and the modern American Dream. It highlights the decline in marriage rates, the necessity of higher education for better job prospects, and the soaring housing prices that contribute to the 'Boomerang Kids' phenomenon. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this, with a majority of young adults living with their parents or grandparents. The speaker emphasizes the importance of life skills and early exposure to various career options to prepare teens for their future. The paragraph concludes with encouragement for teens to forge their own paths and not be confined to a single image of success.

Keywords

💡American Dream

The 'American Dream' traditionally refers to the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. In the context of the video, it's portrayed as a conventional success with material wealth and structured milestones of adulthood. The script mentions a suburban neighborhood, a nine-to-five job, and a family with a dog, illustrating a classic image of the American Dream.

💡Suburban Neighborhood

A 'suburban neighborhood' is a residential area located outside of a city's central urban area, often characterized by single-family homes, yards, and a quieter environment. The script uses this term to evoke the classic image of the American Dream, where the family lives in a peaceful and spacious home, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

💡Nine to Five Job

A 'nine to five job' is a term used to describe a full-time employment where the typical working hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The video script uses this phrase to represent the traditional work life that is part of the American Dream, suggesting a stable and predictable career path.

💡Personal Freedom

'Personal freedom' in the video refers to the desire of Generation Z to have control over their own lives and to make choices that align with their values and aspirations. It's contrasted with the traditional American Dream, indicating a shift in what younger generations consider as success and fulfillment.

💡Fulfillment

'Fulfillment' in this context is the state of being satisfied and happy with one's life, often through achieving personal goals and having meaningful work. The script suggests that for many teens, fulfillment is more important than material wealth or following a predetermined life path.

💡Engaging Career

An 'engaging career' is a line of work that captures one's interest and provides a sense of purpose and excitement. The video script highlights this as a key component of the modern American Dream for Generation Z, moving away from the idea of a job being merely a means to an end.

💡Automation

'Automation' refers to the use of technology to perform tasks that were previously done by humans. In the script, there's an underlying anxiety about automation, particularly the fear of being outsourced by robots, which reflects concerns about job security in the future.

💡Climate Change

In the video, 'climate change' is mentioned as a significant concern for some teens, like Andrew from New York, who wants to go into environmental engineering due to fears of climate change destroying his hometown. This shows how environmental issues are becoming a part of the American Dream narrative.

💡Second Generation Immigrants

'Second generation immigrants' are the children of immigrants born in the host country. The script discusses the pressure they might feel to fulfill the American Dream as envisioned by their parents, who sacrificed much for a better life in America.

💡Boomerang Kids

'Boomerang Kids' is a term used to describe young adults who, after living independently, return to live with their parents due to financial or other reasons. The script mentions this phenomenon, highlighting the challenges young people face in achieving financial independence.

💡Life Skills

'Life skills' encompass a range of abilities necessary for personal and social development, such as cooking, cleaning, and time management. The video script emphasizes the importance of these skills for teens to achieve personal and financial independence, suggesting that academic success alone is not sufficient.

Highlights

The traditional American Dream is defined by conventional success, material wealth, and a structured life path.

Expectations of the American Dream include moving out, getting a job, marriage, having kids, and buying a house, all before the age of 30.

Some adolescents view the traditional lifestyle as dull and fear its monotony.

Generation Z seeks personal freedom, fulfillment, and control over their lives as part of their American Dream.

The speaker interviewed American students from diverse backgrounds to understand their vision of the American Dream.

Shadia from South Dakota does not wish to be confined to a traditional 9-to-5 job until retirement.

A Californian sophomore desires a creative job that is not susceptible to automation.

Andrew from New York is motivated by environmental concerns and wishes to pursue a career in environmental engineering.

Amara from Ohio values shaping her own future without adhering to any specific standard.

Sylvia from California emphasizes the importance of personal fulfillment and non-traditional paths to success.

There is an underlying anxiety among teens about automation and climate change.

The speaker's parents exemplify the contemporary American Dream through their immigrant success story.

Second-generation immigrants like the speaker may feel a sense of obligation to fulfill the dreams of their parents.

The transition from adolescence to adulthood has become less clear-cut with delayed marriage and increased education requirements.

The term 'Boomerang Kids' refers to young adults who return to live with their parents due to financial unpreparedness.

COVID-19 lockdowns have exacerbated the phenomenon of young adults living with their parents.

Despite being well-educated, Generation Z faces challenges in achieving personal and financial independence.

The importance of life skills such as cooking, cleaning, time management, and financial literacy is emphasized for teens.

Early exposure to various career options in school can help teens find their path and prepare for the future.

Encouragement for teens to carve their own path and not be afraid of a changing world.

Transcripts

foreign

so you've all heard of the American

dream

there is the traditional idea of it the

image it might conjure in your head

you've got a Suburban neighborhood a

father that goes to work at his nine to

five job

a mother that stays home to take care of

the kids and the housework

a dog probably named something like Nala

Cooper sorry to anybody who has a dog

with either of those names

maybe even the iconic white picket fence

these stereotypes Define the American

dream through conventional success

material wealth as well as an element of

structure in terms of reaching the

Milestones of adulthood

by that I mean is expected of pretty

much everybody to move out and get a job

right after graduating get married have

kids and buy a house all before your 30s

and all pretty much in that order

but if you were to ask an adolescent

today what their ideal future is not

many are going to describe that life to

you and some might even scorn it as dull

or fear the monotony of a traditional

lifestyle

Generation Z tends to describe the

American dream as having personal

freedom and fulfillment control over

their own lives and an engaging career

but in the current world that seemingly

straightforward goal may seem daunting

to many teens

a few weeks ago I got this amazing

opportunity to go to New Mexico to

interview for this Foundation that gives

American students scholarships to this

network of international boarding

schools in different countries around

the world

it was an amazing experience and I got

to meet teens from all around America

and all different walks of life

I realized that it was the perfect

opportunity to gain some insight into

what the teenage American Dream really

is

so I talked to them

I'm going to show you what just a few of

them had to say when I asked them about

their ideal future

shadia from South Dakota said I want to

be able to achieve things but I don't

want to be forced to work a nine to five

until retirement

an anonymous sophomore from California

stated I wanted to go into a creative

job I don't want to get outsourced by

robots

Andrew from New York said I want to go

into environmental engineering because

I'm afraid of climate change destroying

my hometown

I want to leave America and travel the

world with my person and have zero kids

Amara from Ohio

I want to shape my own future I don't

want to adhere to any specific standard

said Sylvia from California

since then I've been asking my friends

and classmates the same question what's

your ideal future and the prevailing

sentiment among them was that they

valued having a stimulating

non-monotonous career

having a stimulating non-monotonous

career getting married and having their

own person but not necessarily having

kids and making a change in the world

I also picked up on an underlying

anxiety about Automation and climate

change

my parents are a shining example of the

Contemporary American Dream a reputation

that we as a country wear with pride

Coming to America from a war-torn

country in search of a better life

my father immigrated here from Iran

after the extremist Islamic regime over

through the Shah

he taught himself English got a college

education and when he met my mom back in

Iran she brought her back with him and

she did the same for herself

both of them worked hard to ensure a

good life for their kids

now they're homeowners they have two

daughters and a Golden Retriever named

Nala

but what about those second generation

immigrants like my sister and I

following the rise of immigration to the

U.S in the 70s

our parents sacrificed so much to give

us the happy successful future

associated with America

no threat of Saturday school or

detention could motivate me to stay on

track for Success like seeing the

atrocities happening to women and girls

in my home country and thinking that

could have been me

even if a traditionally successful life

didn't necessarily appeal to me I'd

still feel like I owed it to my parents

to fulfill the dream they had when they

loved everything they had ever known to

find a better life for us

I'm sure many second generation

immigrants share this sentiment it feels

almost wasteful to abandoned

conventional success for a different

path

this pressure aside the current

generation still tends to stray away

from the life path of our predecessors I

mean there isn't just one cookie cutter

life path success right

in the past the transition from

adolescence to adulthood was a clean-cut

one I mean most people got married and

started a family much earlier in life

marriage is strongly linked to more

financial and

personal stability

it used to be the most reliable way of

cutting the court of dependence between

young adults and their parents

in the 1960s 72 percent of American

adults were married

as of 2021 it was down to 52 percent

and nowadays more education is needed to

land a job that provides a living wage

housing prices are skyrocketing all of

these factors are making it more and

more unrealistic for a young adult to be

able to survive on their own without a

lot of support from their parents

these adult fledglings who are

financially unprepared to leave the nest

are referred to as the Boomerang Kids

because they come right back

the covid-19 lockdowns only worsened

this phenomenon at the height of the

pandemic 60 percent of Americans age 18

to 25 lived with parents or grandparents

if you were to ask a teenager today do

you think that when you're 25 we want to

be living with your parents most of them

are going to say no

it's not that the younger generation

isn't educated enough to hold their own

Generation Z is the least likely

generation to drop out of high school

the most likely to go to college and

Millennials are the most educated

generation ever

gone are the days of referring to 23

year old losers living in their parents

basement because they're too lazy to get

a job or go to college

now it's the norm you can do everything

you were told to do everything you're

supposed to do and still not achieve the

future that you were promised

as a high school student

I see my peers around me working their

hardest to get into a good college or

university

as College admissions get more and more

difficult and selective I watch as all

the stress is placed on high grades and

test scores

but life doesn't stop once you graduate

even the most well-educated adults can

still be lacking in some of the basic

life skills it takes to survive on their

own

this leaves teens with pressure to

succeed academically but little reward

for when they achieve that goal they

aren't prepared

so how can we teach young Americans to

be able to reach personal and financial

Independence

achieve their own version of the

American dream

parents of teens or Boomerang Kids don't

ignore the importance of life skills

like cooking cleaning time management

financial literacy while familial

connections can be advantageous learning

the interpersonal skills needed for

networking is also important

and in school it's proven that early

exposure as early as Elementary and

Middle School to a variety of career

options can help them find what's right

for them in the future

and teens don't be afraid to carve your

own path we're in a changing world after

all

don't get too attached to any one image

of the future you may have

and hang on tight thank you

[Applause]