Define American?

A raw look into the American eye

By Lindsey A from Royal Oak High School in Michigan

What it means to be American is undefinable. Peoples goals, aspirations, and dreams likely their bias of what it means and clouds everyone else’s perspective unto the subject. America has been the centre of ME, ME, ME, MINE, MINE, MINE, ideal since its beginning. But there’s more than just america in this world, so why don’t we focus on global issues while addressing our own. This world is not ours, we do not own it. So why does America still continue to be the #1 leader in global carbon emissions and mass shootings. Why aren’t our carbon footprint being lessened? Why isn’t anything getting done about gun violence, not only in the schools, but around the country? If you really wanna define something undefinable, let me give you my bias: Because it’s American to blame someone else.

Americans blame others for their own misfortune or even just a “downfall” which is misinterpreted and not true. The ones in power blame the minorities they oppress, Generations before blame the generation they raised for issues they caused themselves.

Baby Boomers blame Millennials for the “American downfall” and Millennials blame generation z for being so dependent on technology. The blame game is passed on from generation to generation creating a toxic environment. From my homelife, my parents are Baby bBomers, they blame my generation for same sex rights, gender rights, and feminism for not being “what it should be”. They don’t care that we’re teenagers and already making a change in climate of gun control. I hear them constantly argue over “what can we do to change this, to make America strong?” Accepting the problems caused by yourselves and ways to fix the problems caused.

To be American doesn’t have to be doom and gloom though. If we stop blaming one another for issues preventable (climate change, mass shootings etc.) we can start making a change. And isn’t that what being american is about, being the change you wish to see in the world? 

Royal Oak High School

Ready for Fun

ELA 11 6th Hour

Unity in America

My piece is about my observations in the world of politics, and how much more conflict there is than cooperation.

My Family's Past

My Writing is about the American Dream my family's past and heritage.

American Creed-Problem in America

This is about the American dream, and what a major problem in America is.

American Creed; Teens Perspective

Parents must guide their children into their American freedoms so their child is familiar with what the future entails. Children have freedoms just like adults and when they reach certain ages these freedoms should be introduced to them when they are given.

My American Creed

My piece is about how I believe if you’re determined, you don’t have to be born in America to achieve the American Dream.

Americanism and Individuality

Americans gather with like-minded people, but respect the opinions of others

Inspiring Talents

I believe that we inspire each other.

Patriotism in our Country

My piece is about how I believe the most patriotic thing you can do is recognize the problems with your country and try to fix them.

Learning What it Means to be an American in New York City

In one trip, I learned some of the most important values of what it truly means to be an American.

Marching Toward our American Creed

I discuss the ways we can reach the original American Dream by communicating with those with differing backgrounds and beliefs, and by joining together to make our voice stronger. I also discuss how we can become closer to understanding our American Creed by communicating.

Reality of the American Dream

My piece is about the varying views and realities on the American Dream.

The American Creed and the death of spirituality

The American Creed and the ideals that built America. Where do these ideals lead people? Why do these ideals lead people? The truth behind the ideals and actions of America as a whole, and it's connection to life itself and mine and many others' spiritual views on life.

My Life In America, In The Past 18 Years

This is a piece about my life in the past 18 years in America

Growing Up in America With Immigrant Parents

I wrote about how my parents taught me to love who I am by being true to myself.

The American dream

My essay is about how racism affects the American Dream. I talk about a celebrity who deals with racism everyday, I also talk about my relative and his point of view on things.

My Family History

My piece is about my family history and the lessons we have learned through the years.

American Creed; Educational Opportunities

The equal opportunity of furthering education is important to many. The act of making sure the path is open to all is essential to American.

What it Means to be American

In this piece, I talk about what it means to be American and providing evidence and reasoning to back up my claim.

America and the Fourth of July

Here is an essay for reasoning behind why Americans should think of the people that have progressed America forward and have supported it for the future.

Traveling is My American Creed

I love to travel. Having opportunities to travel and getting to experience new cultures and environments have made me who I am. I wrote about two life changing and amazing experiences that i hope to remember forever.

Inspiration in American

Americans have a history of being inspired by their own society, and the people around them.

Communication is Key

This talks about how overall communication is what made America and ultimately it makes people an American.

Risky Business

The story of how risk is essential for the American Dream.

More responses from Royal Oak High School

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America is beginning to lose some of our founding morals and beliefs. Some of our values like opportunity or privilege are not the same as they used to be.

American Resilience and Progress

Americans are resilient and we know that failure is never an option, and we have known this throughout the entire history of our country.

Inspiring Talents

I believe that we inspire each other.

Heroes of the American Melting Pot

My piece explores leaders who have fought back against discrimination and created opportunities for future generations of Americans.

Generational Expression of Patriotism

My piece about how there are generational differences about how patriotism is shown.

The Social Contract

The following discussion and reflections were prompted by four questions centered around the topic of gun control, with the purpose of evaluating how we as Americans consider the social contract and alterations to our rights.

Tell the truth.

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What does it mean to be American?

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Preserving Family Culture

Preserving family culture is essential to my American Creed. Remembering and acknowledged our family's history helps increase the diversity in America, which is beautiful and unique.

Being Creative is More Than Just a Hobby

This essay is about the link between being creative and a happier, more successful life.

The American Creed as Seen Through Family and Community

This is a 7-page picture book about my personal experiences with the American Creed, and how others can relate to it.

My American Creed & How I Understand the American Creed

This is my story.

More responses from Michigan

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What It Means To Be American

What being american means to me and others.

The World is Changing, We Need to Change With it

The older generation is the largest percent of the voter turnout but the younger voters need help. People need to be willing and able to change their views of freedom to adapt to the ever changing world we live in.

A Culture that Glorifies Success

My piece touches on the fact that the American identity is largely formed off of the parts of American history we glorify as successes and the fact that this largely hinders growth, and additionally analyzes the extent to which failure and success can contribute to an identity.

What it Means to be American

In this piece, I talk about what it means to be American and providing evidence and reasoning to back up my claim.

American Creed in Communities

American Creed is found in individuals and in their communities. The values for each group of people is different and unique but all of these values still affect the people around them and create a united country.

The Building Block of Our Nation

This piece is about our country being built on equality, but is the land of inequality. I talk about racism over and the people of our country lying about our country. My piece makes you think about our country in a different light and the realities some people face.

The Impact of Religion

Religion has completely changed our past, making our free exercise of religion one of the most important parts of America.

The American Creed and the death of spirituality

The American Creed and the ideals that built America. Where do these ideals lead people? Why do these ideals lead people? The truth behind the ideals and actions of America as a whole, and it's connection to life itself and mine and many others' spiritual views on life.

What's to Be Done?

In America, there are those who are affluent and those who are not. I am just one person but I speak for many when I say I lived a less affluent life as a child, and will likely experience being impoverished again when I am older. Knowing this, I ask myself, what can be done?

Participating for Change

Understanding how citizen participation in politics has changed American society, and its impact on current American issues.

Learning What it Means to be an American in New York City

In one trip, I learned some of the most important values of what it truly means to be an American.

Anyone Can Find Potential

In our class we had to express our beliefs or belief in an I Believe essay. My belief was that I believe anyone can achieve what they put their minds to. This partly explains the American creed in my eyes, the ability to dream anything and make it a reality.

More responses about "america" and "creed"

Surprise Me

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United by our Differences

I interviewed people in my community and asked them what the American Dream means to them. I got a wide variety of answers that mentioned the economic opportunities, freedom and rights, and even that the American Dream is a way of life.

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My paper is about my family history and how they immigrated to America in order to get hands on experience with new opportunity. I talk about their definition of American Creed and how they feel about it.

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Ending Generational Trauma

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Union

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American Creed

This essay talked about the importance of education and proved that claim.

American Dream

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My American Creed

This essay is about what I believe my American Creed is.

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My piece is about the rituals and symbols that make us American compared to the past to the modern day. The image is to compare the things we think of when someone says the word America, and how we treat them as symbols of our own identity, and the way we worship them.

American Creed

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The Language Of Music

This is a video about how music is a ritual which expresses the American Creed.

My American Creed

This is about what I personally believe my American Creed is made up of, and why it makes me who I am.

The American Creed

Talking about America & its greatest value

1st prompt

My American Creed is demonstrated by many things including my family, friend, and opportunities in America.

Patriotism in our Country

My piece is about how I believe the most patriotic thing you can do is recognize the problems with your country and try to fix them.

American Creed

My piece is about how we as a country can come together and accomplish things in the future, instead of being in a constant static state.

This Is America

Growing up as a African-Amrican in America comes with several challeges. How we have to deal with the court system and enforcement with the police. How different cultures come to America to live a better life and have to deal with the world not accepting them and their religion.

One Step Closer

As a second generation Indian immigrant in America, the push and pull of cultures has both defined and created conflict in my identity. My American Creed is about accepting all parts of myself and expanding that idea of celebrating diversity to the larger society.

The American Creed, A dream

A dream from America.

Writing Our Future: American Creed is part of the National Writing Project’s family of youth publishing projects, all gathered under the Writing Our Future initiative.

Writing Our Future projects are designed by educators for educators and the young people they work with. Intended for use in schools, libraries, and other educational settings. All projects are COPPA compliant and educator-managed. NWP is committed to supporting young people’s writing and civic participation by providing a safe and supportive environment for youth writing, media creation, sharing, and publishing.