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FRONTLINE’s Left Behind America

Left Behind America

What does it mean for you to chase the American dream in today’s economy?

In conjunction with the stories of working-class Americans from the FRONTLINE special “Left Behind America,” we asked people across the country to tell us how they’re chasing the American dream using #ChasingtheDreamPBS. Their responses are curated here and linked to their original sources.

At a time when nearly 1 in 5 Americans say the American dream is out of reach, what inspires us to keep going after it — and what prevents us from achieving it? Explore the stories below, and we invite you to share your own #ChasingtheDreamPBS story using the hashtag on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

“#ChasingTheDreamPBS [is] trying to pay off my student loan debt, working 1 full time and 1 part time job, while still following my real dream of comedy and performance.” - Jocelyn from Pittsburgh, PA
“I guess it depends on how you define it. I got a roof over my head, heat in the winter, food on the table, friends, and books to read. All in all that isn't too bad.” - Cheryl
“For me, #chasingthedreampbs means working full-time 9-5 and then pursuing my dream of owning my own dance studio by working 6pm-12pm teaching, choreographing, and directing 5 days a week. The day job funds the dream.” - Cristy
“#ChasingTheDreamPBS. I've seen Americans make miracles, so the world can touch the moon and cancer patients live longer. I am an American soldier, and my dreams [are to] serve honorably & cure Haïti from this cancer named illiteracy. My name is Jun, and I am #Originallypackagedinhaiti” - Jun
“I learned that owning things meant nothing. That my debt burden was the biggest cause of my anxiousness. So my life was defined by living within my means. No fancy house, car, or a bunch of toys. Live simply and don't let the things you buy own you.” - Hugh
“We are lucky to own our home, have good incomes, stable jobs - yet I feel like we are constantly being told what we have isn't good enough. I think it's the push to always have 'more' that is driving so much dissatisfaction and essentially destroying what it means to achieve the American Dream.” - Kim from Colorado Springs, CO
“The American dream... a vacation every year, little debt, 8-mo safety net in savings & a comfy retirement to look forward to while still young enough to enjoy it. For most Americans that’ll never be their reality. PS: Bezos, based on a 40-hr work week, makes $40.3 MILLION per hr.” - Errol from San Antonio, TX
“I gave up on hoping and dreaming about the future when I lost my job in 2010. I never recovered. A house, vacations, retirement account...all out of reach. I'm 44. #ChasingTheDreamPBS” - Anon. from New Jersey
“It means you're suddenly "old" and realize that you will never fulfill your simple dream of owning a home and that all you did was chase the dream. And, as a bonus, you get to watch your grown daughter doing the same thing.” - Lauren from Jacksonville Beach, FL
“The American Dream our parents/ grandparents had needs to be re-defined. It’s not the 1950’s anymore.” - Joyce from Springfield, MA
“For the most part, my family and I are not exactly what you would consider middle-class. We're making ends meet and can make it from month to month on a fixed income. As I tweet this, I am currently in college, studying to become a journalist and earn a bachelor's degree (I managed to successfully earn my associate's degree, but my family urged me to continue my education.) I'm grateful to have been able to receive financial aid and grants to make it to college. (Without it, I may not have been able to make it in higher education.) I hope to be able to earn my bachelor's and make it in the professional workforce, like my mother. #ChasingTheDreamPBS Hopefully, when I earn my bachelor's degree, I'll be able to fully ‘chase the American Dream’". It's a work in progress, but I'm in it to win it. #ChasingTheDreamPBS #frontlinePBS” - Allen from New York, NY
“#chasingthedreampbs I've been working in education for over 10 years. I have bachelor of science in child & adolescent development, a Post-bac in communicative disorders, and a master's degree in special education. I'm also a Spanish interpreter. I have a good work ethic, and I still can't seem to catch a break, or break beyond the $50k a year mark. I live in LA, it's crowded, expensive, and competitive. Sometimes you just want to give up.” - Gabby
“Been chasing for 30+ years. Never quite got there. Recently lost my job so trying to just keep up with the bills. I was hoping to be doing much better at nearly 55. Took a lot of chances over the years but nothing really paid off. It seems we are entering a two class economy now. Sad to watch happen, not the America I remember growing up.” - Kevin
“Well if it’s to own your own house and business, we (my partner and I) did it. I’ve traveled outside of the country more times than I ever thought I would as I write this on vacation in Switzerland. The scariest part is knowing that we have to work hard to keep it and our Republican run government doesn’t help. Medicare For All would be a great safety net.” - Charles
“There is no chasing the dream anymore. It's called survival now.” - Lori
“Student loans and a terrible economy keep any dreams out of reach, yet I'm not as bad off as many. I can afford rent and food and pay my bills but after that it's catch as catch can. It's limbo - waiting for something to change while nothing changes. I'll spend my life waiting, it seems.” - Andrew
“Chasing the dream, no, constantly in catch-up mode....one step forward 3 steps back.” - Becky
“I’ve always tried to create my own dream! Live each day fully!” - Anita from Clermont, IA
“Hopefully, we can get past the concept of 'The American Dream.' There are probably as many 'American Dreams' as there are Americans...they are as diverse as our society. I hope for a day when 'The American Dream' is less about accumulating and having... and more about health and well-being for everyone.” - Dennis
“The dream is dead!!! The economy works only for the rich. Work harder to get nothing.” - David
“The American dream is not any different from what human beings all over the world dream. A roof over your head, enough to eat and prospects for the future of your children. Unfortunately, greed by a few and a corrupted government working for their Mega donors has severely damaged that dream.” - Iris
“Making good choices, leading yourself, living within your [boundaries], asking for help when you need it, providing help when you can. There is a mentality of striving to be successful, failure happens, learn from it. I grew up with little and worked to be successful... No one said it was easy and perseverance can make it happen. Don't blame others, be accountable to yourself.” - Anthony
“My son struggles to live on 12 bucks an hour...no healthcare....can't afford to go to doctor....no phone .....had to sell his car.... Sad.” - Linda
“I made okay money. I owned a home, I owned nice cars. I got divorced and took a big hit financially, mentally. And emotionally. Within 2 years I moved to a bigger city met the woman I really was always suppose[d] to be with. We bought a bigger house than I had before. So yeah it’s a great dream too.” - Marc from Columbia, MO
“I do not like the notion of “chasing” a dream - something elusive and not entirely real.” - Kim from Durango, Colorado
“Education, job, savings, house, then baby, in that order. When you do things out of order, (such as starting with a baby) then yeah, of course it's harder to obtain the 'dream'. It's still doable, but much harder.” - Evan from Richmond, VA
“There are middle class Americans who fell off of the ACA "subsidy cliff". Are they really middle class if they need to use credit to help pay their premiums? (No discretionary $'s available for anything else, btw). Or, if those middle class people who can't afford/don't pay the high cost and do without insurance, are they really still "middle class"? They don't have the safety net. Isn't having insurance a benchmark of being middle class in America?” - Ellene
“Dreams are always out of reach; that's why they are called dreams. For the current American, survival will have to suffice.” - James from Detroit, MI
“There’s a dream to attain?? Seems kind of like swim or sink right now.... doesn’t it?” - Violet
“My dad was a factory worker and my mom worked at a daycare yet could still afford a home in the 1970s. Now, the wages are so depressed and skewed in comparison to C-suite salaries that the dream of home ownership is out of reach for the working, blue, and pink collar classes. It’s a shame because many landlords know this and take advantage of people by raising rents [e]very year and forcing families to move to seek better rent. It’s a vicious cycle.” - Sarah
"For my parents and many of our neighbors and relatives it meant used cars, no cable tv, no fancy vacations, not going out to eat, hand me down clothing and appliances. Sacrifice, doing without, avoiding debt. Make it better for your kids.” - Kenny<