They're not going to be very happy and fulfilled when the U.S. economy is a smoldering wreck, they're having to work day and night to pay the taxes needed to support the baby boomers, and are boning up on their Mandarin and facing the prospect of leaving their families behind to emigrate for better opportunities.
People have followed their dreams in much worse times -- and with much less luxuries.
Following your dreams is a luxury for people in the global top 5% (mostly in the west). Everyone else is locked in bitter competition. I'm not convinced America will stay comfortably above that fray over my daughter's lifetime.
>Following your dreams is a luxury for people in the global top 5% (mostly in the west).
You'd be really surprised.
People follow their dreams even in the bottom 5% -- including as refugees, in times of war, and in all kinds of bad situations, and in all kinds of cultures, not just "the west".
The "starving artist" (who does or does not make it) is not something out of fiction, and neither is the piss poor bootstrapped entrepreneur.
Or you know, child happiness and personal fulfilment.