“My Commitment to America’s Future”
America’s future depends on me and the other seventy two million young Americans, who, according to the United States Census, were under the age of eighteen in the year 2000. This number represents approximately 25% of our nation’s total population who must be taught the importance of commitment to one’s country. The scripture, Proverbs 22:6, states we should, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” My commitment to this great country’s future is simple, teach the children and they will not depart from what they learn. It is every American’s responsibility to teach their children to dream, to embrace the principles of our founding fathers, to develop positive moral values, and to instill a desire for education.
You may say, “These ideas do not sound simple.” However, they can be accomplished if each citizen carries out the commitment to make them happen for our future leaders, our future parents and our future voters. While not everyone will have the opportunity to be an actual teacher or be involved with formal education, everyone can teach their own children and grandchildren the value of commitment to one’s own country.
I commit to America that I will teach my children to dream. I will tell them they can do anything or be anything they choose. I will teach them that without dreams our great country would not have come to pass. Some of our greatest dreamers include the founding fathers of our “experiment with democracy”. In Joseph J. Ellis’ book, Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation, the author explains to the reader exactly how daring and impossible the dreams of those brave men were. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, to name a few, were all accomplished dreamers who set out to create a vision with no model to follow and many critics to quiet. But they were committed to America’s future and they fulfilled their dream by helping to establish an experiment with a democratic government that has lasted over 200 years. As free Americans, we each owe so much to these grand dreamers.
I can also commit to America that I will instill in my children a strong value system. The fundamental values we must commit to teach our children are respect for others, accountability, perseverance, patience, honesty, integrity, optimism, hope, and courage to face challenges. Our children must be taught about the gift of service to others and giving back to the community through volunteerism. As parents, teachers, and mentors, our duty to our country can best be served by passing the torch of community service to the next generation.
I commit to America that I will do everything in my power to see that my children receive one of the greatest gifts our country has to offer, an unlimited education.
Parents must be involved in their children’s education and be the role model that each child needs. The root all learning actually begins at home. The first teacher every child learns from is their parent and every parent must commit to creating a solid foundation for their child’s educational beginning.
The final commitment I will make to America is to teach my children that there is nothing they cannot achieve. They must realize that one of the most valuable gifts of living in a free country is that they are free to choose whatever goals they desire. Our children must learn that the thousands of brave men and women who lost their life, in service to our country, have enabled the opportunities given to each of them.
These are my personal commitments to America’s future. In order for our democracy to continue to thrive, each family should teach their children, by example, the responsibility and commitment required to keep our country great. My grandfather served our country during World War II, my aunt taught school for more than thirty years, and my parents have instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude for being able to live in a country that offers so much and asks so little in return. I am now, and shall remain, committed to my family, my city, my state and most of all, my America.