America, land of the free and home of the brave. Our country was founded on inalienable principles that we still cherish today – freedom, democracy, and capitalism. America is unlike any country in the world, and it is crucial that people understand and appreciate all the things that make America so special. America’s founding fathers were willing to achieve independence at any cost. The stakes could not be higher, yet heroes like George Washington and John Adams stood up to Great Britain and showed the true embodiment of patriotism. Like many patriots before me, I love our country. America is the land of opportunity, a place where if you work hard, you can accomplish anything, and a beacon of hope for millions of people around the world. My parents’ success story is the result of hard work and perseverance, but most importantly, the great American Dream. They each came to America with nothing, but because America is the land of opportunity, they were able to make it in this world, and become successful professionals who provided an excellent foundation for me to succeed as well.
As a young American, many don’t expect me to follow politics, or understand nuances and significance of events. However, I have many concerns for the future of our country. In America, people like myself and my parents are able to succeed through hard work and merit. Now, the value of merit is being diminished, no longer appreciated or rewarded. Even more concerning, the free speech and democracy that we thrive on are being suppressed. It appears that America is moving away from the intentions of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which is what sets us apart from the rest of the world and what immigrants crave for their families. My parents experienced what it was like to be under the socialist rule of the USSR when the government had all the power over its citizens, and that was precisely what they fled. Given my many concerns, I published a book titled A Sheep’s Tale- Young Patriot’s Guide to Saving America, which is available on Amazon. In my book, I follow a family who narrowly escapes the USSR to America in 1928, lives through various historical events, and is now noticing some troubling similarities between the two countries and the direction America is heading.
There is much hope for our future, and it lies in the young generation. Young Americans who love our country and truly care about it need to step up and make their voices heard. Although I cannot vote or run for office yet, I, for one, have already been speaking up in the education community to reverse the detrimental high school admissions policy that shifted away from merit and morphed into a lottery. I have made TV appearances, written op-eds, and spoken at CEC meetings. I encourage young people to speak up, not to be silent or afraid, and fight for what’s right. The more young Americans raise their voices, the more change will happen. In the future, I plan on running for political office where I can make changes to improve our country and help make it, as the Constitution says, “a more perfect union.” America is the greatest nation, and our best days are yet to come!
