晨读英语美文 Struggling in America

Struggling in America

[00:06.11]The United States of America is often seen as a nation

[00:15.30]in which the pursuit of happiness is not a dream but a reality.

[00:19.02]The sad truth is that although portrayed as an unusually easy life,

[00:23.94]life in America is as much of a struggle as in any other nation.

[00:27.77]For example, higher level education for Americans does not come easy.

[00:33.24]Although there are scholarships, grants and loans available,

[00:37.06]if the student fails to meet the criteria he is left 

[00:40.86]with only personal resources to draw from.

[00:42.64]This takes him into a life with not only a school schedule to follow

[00:47.34] but perhaps, also, a work schedule and family life.

[00:50.19]These are often the difficulties

[00:52.87] that are not portrayed through the TV and movies.

[00:55.33]These are also the difficulties which many believe

[00:58.32]they will not encounter by attending an American college.

[01:01.78]In the second place, there is financial security.

[01:05.06]Many times what is portrayed of life in America 

[01:09.11]is a life where money is no object.

[01:10.97]The fallacy in this is that,

[01:13.26]in spite of the comparatively higher wages available,

[01:16.11]the cost of living is also higher.

[01:18.30]Even though it may seem like one is making more money,

[01:21.69]just as much is spent in surviving.

[01:24.23]Each person has their own personal struggle

[01:26.88]and money is an object for the majority of the people.

[01:30.33]Thirdly is the belief that in the American way of life

[01:34.24] everyone has a good job.

[01:35.25]With the increasing advancements in technology,

[01:38.42]a well-paying job for those currently in the work force 

[01:42.29]is getting harder to find.

[01:43.24]Those who have not been exposed to computers

[01:46.63]and other new methods of communication 

[01:49.60]are finding this to be true.

[01:50.31]As it stands now,

[01:52.11]the job market is requiring at least 

[01:55.47]a two-year degree from college,

[01:56.68]in order to make enough to live comfortably.

[01:58.77]Even then well-paid jobs are not easy to find,

[02:02.48]as it is sometimes believed 

[02:04.91]because of the portrayal of life in America.