Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is featuring US citizens explaining what the American dream means to them in 2026 — including Pennsylvanian Karen Knudsen, the CEO of the American Cancer Society.
I think the American dream is about possibilities: the concept that you can be from anywhere, you can be anyone, and decide that your passion is science or engineering and there’s nothing that can get in your way toward that goal. The only obstacle is yourself.
My parents went to high school together. My father had a pretty standard kind of middle-class upbringing. For my mother, things were much harder. He [became] an Army intelligence officer — the first intelligence officer on Delta Force. She was an executive for Williams-Sonoma for 25 years.
They were both very passionate about [education]. They always instilled upon us that this was the most important avenue to having the life that you want. It’s something that my husband and I tell our boys: That’s how you know you’ve done well. Not that you made a million dollars or that you live on Park Avenue. Having achieved your goal is the key to happiness. And the way to get there is to have choice.
My family has benefited from having great instructors and great educational opportunities throughout our lives. It’s why we live where we live — the school district. I still have mentors!
Sometimes I get a little worried that [our country is] not placing an emphasis on positioning education in America to be competitive for the future. I know we’re starting to pay a little more attention to STEM and thinking about the occupations of the future. But I get a little worried that we’ve not moved fast enough toward that end.
Are we really ready for a global marketplace? And what does that look like for our children and for their aspirations and their careers? How do we make that work as a community?
I think the American dream requires attention, and it requires some thoughtfulness for us to really understand where the world is going socially and from an occupational standpoint.
The American Dream Video Project showcases real stories that illuminate pathways to opportunity. Featured at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), this series is part of the Center’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. MCAAD is Washington, DC’s newest cultural institution, offering interactive exhibits and stories about achieving the American Dream. For more information, visit mcaad.org.