My American Creed consists of not just one thing, but it is rather a combination of a couple different things that ultimately represent what it means to be American: the power of choice and the roots that make up the American people.

I am the daughter of a police officer and personal assistant and the granddaughter of an ER doctor, audiologist, attorney, magistrate, and speech therapist. While these things might seem trivial, they partly make up who we are. Everyone in America comes from different backgrounds which come with different experiences and challenges of their own. Whether we take pride or dislike in our roots, that is a choice that Americans have the freedom to make.

Me personally, I choose to be proud that my dad is a police officer who would do anything to protect and help someone in need, I am proud that my mom is a hard working assistant, I am proud that my grandparents are doctors, attorneys, and therapist, and I am even proud that I come from a family of divorced parents. While the latter may sound a bit strange, to me, it is better than despising where I come from since it is part of what makes me, me.

Of course, everyone has the choice to not be proud of where they come from. Choices are not something that citizens in every country have and we would not have the capability to make choices without the brave men and women who have fought and given their lives for us to be able to maintain the power in choice.

Nelson Mandela once said, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears,” so as you make your next choices, use that power to make ones that will benefit you and the others around you since we have the distinct privilege to do so.