Christa Conroy

Grade 7

Teacher: Dayna Hudson

When someone I know mentions in conversation our country, America, I immediately think about the current major news events that are impacting my beloved land. As our husbands and fathers are asked to serve on foreign soil unknown to us, our nation faces several challenges to our beliefs and fortitude.

Even though it seems certain that each day America will be involved in a fray or conflict somewhere in the world I look to the brighter side and try my best to focus on the true meaning of my country.

Historically our nation was formed by a band of brave men and women who began our country by holding true to their personal beliefs and religious convictions.

When Columbus discovered America it was at the behest of the Queen of Spain who had a desire to grow her empire through land acquisition. In those days the more landmass owned by an empire equated to more power over other empires.

Since the colonization of the 13 original states America has always held true to the phrase that "necessity is the mother of invention". It was with that thought process in mind that led to many discoveries and inventions. The light bulb via Edison, the manufacturing procedures generated by the Industrial Revolution, the first automobiles by Ford and the Wright brothers with their first flight all helped to form the great country that America is today.

The technological evolution of the computer age and the many products and services that flowed from these modern day inventors have provided us with products such as personal computers (I won't be allowed to attend the college of my choice without one!) as well as creature comforts such as high definition television and heated bucket seats in our automobiles.

Imagine living to be 100 years old and reflecting back to 1904 to consider what has been introduced to our society. It often makes me pause to consider how I benefit today from those inventors who labored day and night to achieve their vision.

My personal goal (and dream) is that I too would like to be an inventor offering to America what I think could benefit the majority of our society. While I don't have my specific idea defined at this writing, the fact that I live in a country where I have the choice to follow this dream encourages me to use my creative thoughts.

In my life, which spans all of 13 years, I have witnessed terrorism against my country as well as military action in several foreign lands that have become important topics to study in school. We tried to determine why other nations enter conflict-causing destruction to property and the resulting loss of many lives only to find that cultural and religious beliefs are oftentimes different from those we hold true.

Drawing a comparison to soccer, which is my chosen team sport, my team is trying their best to make a goal against our opponent while at the same time the defense is doing their best to halt our march to success. That team, who generates the effort and energy to place the ball in the net, thus achieves success and resolves the conflict.

Similarly the countries who wish to oppress America and our allies are trying to impress upon our society their will and way. Americans who elect and support our president resist and make every effort to "win the game" by using our effort and energy to have these opposing countries embrace our ways.

Living in America has to be a balance of rights and responsibilities. Being alive at a time when our World Trade Center is abolished is terrifying to me, yet I am elated to know that our leaders and our military, if necessary will do all that they can to protect me. This peace of mind allows me and my fellow citizens to face each new day with a positive outlook even though the world is ever changing.

America too is constantly changing and I know that I will need to be flexible in my thinking to achieve my goals in life. This does not mean though that I will have to worry on a daily basis if I can walk down the street feeling afraid or that my choice of reading material or the candidate I support for political office will place me in harm's way for believing in the way that I do.