By Dan Hart

Most Americans are familiar with the concept of “the American Dream.” It’s that romantic idea, rooted in grit and determination, that anyone from any socioeconomic background can “make it” in America so long as they work hard.

But in recent years, many of America’s intellectuals, prognosticators, and the public in general have declared the American Dream dead. The Left has convinced a large segment of society that Americans of color are inherently disadvantaged simply because of their ethnicity (despite America electing a black man to the most powerful office in the world not once, but twice). But to be sure, studies have shown that at least half of working Americans today do not make as much money as their parents — a sign that, at least economically, the Dream has begun to fade for many.

Still, the remarkable rise of J.D. Vance serves as an example of how the American Dream may not be completely lifeless after all. There are a number of lessons that Christians can draw from his story and from the enduring power of the Dream.

As poignantly described in his autobiographical bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance grew up in the hollowed-out former steel town of Middletown, Ohio, and experienced a turbulent upbringing full of domestic strife. His mother became pregnant in high school and quickly married Vance’s father, but the couple divorced soon after when he was a toddler. As a succession of more than 15 stepdads and boyfriends cycled through his childhood, Vance fell victim to domestic violence, alcoholism, and drug abuse. Still, he was able to spend much of his childhood with his mother’s parents, “Papaw” and “Mamaw,” who provided a relatively stable home life.

As his mother’s drug addiction and Papaw’s death caused her behavior to become increasingly more erratic, and as Vance’s own adolescent behavior and peer group influences worsened, he moved in with his grandmother Mamaw during his sophomore year of high school. It was then that Vance’s grandmother began to instill in him the importance of work ethic and discipline, his grades began improving, and he got a steady job at a grocery store.

After high school, Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he gained crucial formation in discipline and working with others. He then completed a bachelor’s degree at Ohio State in two years before being accepted to Yale Law School. During his time at Yale, he received career mentorship through the generosity of a professor and met his future wife Usha, who he credits with teaching him how to patiently work through familial conflict. After completing his law degree, Vance worked in both corporate law and the technology sector. He then decided to run for U.S. Senate in 2022 and won. After being picked as former President Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 election, Vance is now one of the youngest to ever become a vice president-elect at age 40.

Perhaps what is most evident from the remarkable rise of Vance from a high school sophomore on the verge of dropping out to vice president-elect is that diligence, hard work, and determination really can accomplish even the most far-fetched of outcomes. A key truth here is that it is very unlikely that a story like this could have happened in any other country other than America. Despite all of its ills and challenges, including the continued surge in drug abuse and record-high overdoses particularly in the Rust Belt where Vance is from, America is still capable of producing an almost stranger-than-fiction American Dream like that of J.D. Vance. Yes, conservatives really can graduate from a progressive, left-wing haven like Yale Law School with their values intact!

But what is equally evident is the inestimable value that mentorship can have in a person’s life. Throughout his memoir, Vance continually points out that if it wasn’t for his beloved Mamaw and others in his life, he likely would never have seen the kind of success he has been able to achieve.

Here lies an important lesson for the Christian life. In order to help establish the renewal of society, our first order of business must be to ensure that our own children are thriving in mind, body, and spirit. In addition, we must always be cognizant of providing a helping hand to those around us who may not have the same opportunities that we or our children have had. This could mean becoming a mentor for an after-school program or for a young father. Or it could mean supporting your local pregnancy resource center to help a young mother in need, or even considering adopting a child ourselves. Or it could simply mean giving a little guidance to an intern at work. Who knows how many future J.D. Vances we can help foster through being intentional about mentorship?

Whether or not J.D. Vance harnesses the unique opportunities that America has provided him in order to do good as vice president remains to be seen, and we must continually pray for him and President-elect Trump.

But what is certain is that the American Dream of rising above one’s difficult circumstances in life and building a solid future for yourself and your family is still alive, even if it is not as well as it once was. Only in a country with free enterprise, the rule of law, and individual constitutionally-protected rights can a dream like the American one even be possible.

With God’s grace, may we not only maintain the Dream for the sake of our children and our children’s children, but build upon it by building not only a great nation, but a good one.

Dan Hart is senior editor at The Washington Stand.