The American Dream. A sweet dream swaddled with a sequence of images of achievement, opportunities, prosperity, and success regardless of social class, race, or creed. What was once the American dream has now become an American nightmare for many. Ameirca is no longer  associated with the dream of good fortune but a sort of dream deferred by high unemployment rates, a downward spiraling economy, high gas prices and food cost. In  2008,, former President George W. Bush declared America was in an economic "slowdown". The government bailed out major financial firms and more than 2.2 million jobs were lost in 2008. The prelude to an American dream deferred. Three years later, Americans are still suffering from financial insomnia. Still awaiting to be lulled back into the American Dream.

The focus of my story is on present state of the economy and how it has tattered the American Dream. My story will focus on businesses, recent graduates, the unemployed, middle-aged americans and baby boomers alike who all once lived or wanted to live the American Dream. This story will remain relevant and of interest to CNN's viewing audience particularly because they can relate personally or second-handly. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by the economy and the prospect of the economy recovering within the next seven weeks are bleak.

Video will be my selection of presentation. Why do I want to be a part of this year's boot camp? I want to be a part of CNN iReport 2011 Boot Camp because I would like to hone my skills as a future journalist. I anxiously await to deliver a different view of telling news stories to an audience.