American Creed

As an exchange student I don't really have an American creed. I grew up in a country without much patriotism because of our history and when I first came here some things were really weird to me. For example that we have to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning before the beginning of class or the National Anthem before every varsity game. There are American flags in every classroom and most people even have a flag by their house. 

I think things like these make America and its people more united and it can strengthen the community. For me America is a lot about possibilities and equality. It starts with kindergarten and goes on until High School: In my home country, students are split after they finish elementary school and have to decide which of the three school types they want to attend. Only one of these three types offers the right diploma to be able to attend a university. In the States, everyone gets the same education or has at least the chance to get it. If students finish high school they have so many different choices of colleges and so many more possibilities. I think that's awesome. 

But it is not only possibilities that I associate with America. I think immigrants play a huge role in America today, they did in the past and will in the future. The United States wouldn't be what it is now without immigrants who were looking for a better place for themselves and their children. And even today so many people from all over the world come to America to search opportunities and a better life and I feel like that's a huge part of what America means. They have the American Dream and believe that if they work hard enough, they can achieve almost everything. So that's also a part of the American Creed in my opinion.

I think the United States are about liberty and equal rights for everybody. Even though it was written in the Constitution it took a long time for all people to be treated equally. However, the United States were the first country with a democracy and it never changed. It is hard to give everybody the same opportunities and equal standards and it probably won't ever happen but I like the idea that people still believe it can be done and strive for their beliefs no matter what.