My Family & American Creed

When I think of American Creed, I think of my family. The people in my life who have shown me that you can make anything happen if you really want it. To me, America embodies the freedom to chase a dream and the opportunity to seal your own fate. And my family has taken full advantage of those principles of this country.

When I think of American Creed, I think of my great-grandpa. The man who immediately joined the military after graduating high school. The man who started his own butcher business. The man who employed kids from both sides of my family. The man who taught my mom the value of hard work at a young age. The man who was able to unite his family through food and laughter. The man who inspired countless other members of my family to pursue their own dreams after him.

When I think of American Creed, I think of my great-uncle. The man who grew up in Calcutta, India, sleeping on top of his family and surrounded by dirt. The man who ventured all the way to America for college in Kansas. The man who pursued mechanical engineering and never stopped until he got it right. The man who has invented various innovations for Intel and other start-up companies. The man who has been able to support not only his wife and daughter in California but his entire family back in India. The man who has never made me feel like I wasn't capable.

When I think of American Creed, I think of my mom's cousin. The woman who grew up working for my great grandpa's butcher business. The woman who raised me on spontaneous manicures and concerts. The woman who showed me the importance of women sticking together. The woman who worked at Smucker's. The woman who has opened a thriving business in Bay Village and who has worked her butt off for its growth. The woman who has raised a smart and adventurous little girl and who has been able to successfully balance the contrasting lives of a mother and a businesswoman.

And lastly, when I think of American Creed, I think of my mom. The woman who sacrificed her career to raise her children. The woman who has taught those children compassion, empathy, and the curiosity to learn. The woman who has constantly supported her children's aspirations and decisions. The woman who has also taught her children difficult life lessons. The woman who has always lifted them up, even if it meant she was dragged down in the process.

When I think of my family, I think of endless possibilities, which is what America is all about. In this country, you can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do, an idea that my family has instilled in me since I was a little girl. Not once have I felt that my dreams were out of reach, and that is all because of the support system that I have grown up with, the people who have taught me what American Creed truly is.