My Vision For America
by Autumn Rey Petrick
America, the melting pot, is and always has been, consistent with change. Next year we will be electing a new President after eight years of the same commander in chief. At age 17, I am one year away from being able to vote, so I find myself asking, “what do I want for my future and what can I do to contribute to our society?” I feel that America is definitely a land of opportunity, especially for young people today. But with that opportunity comes responsibility; the responsibility to be informed and in-tune to the needs and the changes of our country. My vision for America is based on some of the core democratic values that have made this country great; freedom, diversity, and the pursuit of happiness.
The first thing that defines this county is Freedom. It’s our first amendment; the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition, are our basic freedoms as citizens of this county. We as young adults have the freedom to choose what we want to do in this world, whether that’s starting our own business, making music, being involved in youth groups and clubs, or doing whatever we want to do as young adults, it?s our choice. Also with the technology available to our generation, it gives us young adults endless possibilities, that no generation has ever had, to make a difference in this world. Freedom is the key to these possibilities given to us by this country.
Diversity is another area that helps the youth of today recognize our goals and dreams. Every human being is created equal and every human being is completely unique and different from one another. Being able to understand what makes us different and accepting those differences only makes us a better society. All people have gifts that contribute to the world around us. If we fail to recognize these gifts, because we get caught up in the fact that people are different, then we miss out on great talents and people. As human beings, we should all have compassion for everyone. It should not matter what your race, religion, choices, or any other circumstance, people should be respected for who they are. My vision for the future of America, is that we continue to embrace our differences and get past the negative feelings that can hold us back from making progress. Diversity is a key component to my vision for America’s future.
Young adults today have the ability to create their own footsteps in this world. In the pursuit of happiness, the youth are able to make decisions that make them happy and not just do what their parents believe they should do. What makes a young adult happy, may not necessarily be what their parents want them to be. With the many opportunities for young adults, there are many new doors that can be opened to find their own happiness. With hard work and dedication, someone should be able to recognize happiness in their everyday life, because they have made their own choices and are doing what they love.
My vision for America is based on some of the core democratic values that have made this country great; freedom, diversity, and the pursuit of happiness. Our generation should embrace the opportunities given to them by this country. This country embraces our differences and continues to find the good in all people. Everyone should be a contributing member to this country and be the best that they can possibly be. The examples that were set for us by our parents and family, should give us the basis to live up to our full potential. But the happiness that is pursued should be ours alone. Our generation has the world at our feet right now, and we need to get engaged and be enthusiastic about all the possibilities that await us now and in the future.