An American is not only defined by birthplace, a passport or an accent. An American is defined by how they understand and use the opportunities placed before them.
In a country built on ideals, being American is less about where someone begins and more about what they choose to do with what they are given. Freedom, safety and education can feel ordinary when they are always present, but their true value is revealed when they are recognized, respected and used with purpose.
The Declaration of Independence establishes this idea by stating that all people are “created equal” and are given the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These aren’t just historical words, they are expectations. They define what America promises and what its people must learn to value. To be American does not mean to just simply possess these rights, but to understand their importance and live in a way that honors them.
For some, that understanding comes naturally. For others, it is learned through experience.
I came to this country when I was 4 years old. I was too young to understand everything my parents were leaving behind, but I have come to understand why they did it. They came for opportunity, especially for education. They believed that in America, effort in a classroom could shape a future. That belief reflects the promise behind the Declaration: that individuals have the freedom to pursue something greater.
Because of that, school has never felt ordinary to me. It represents something earned, not assumed. A classroom is more than desks and assignments, it is an opportunity that exists because of sacrifice, belief and possibility. While education may feel routine to some, it becomes more meaningful when it is seen as something that can change the direction of my life.
My experience is one example, but it reflects a larger truth: Opportunity has value when it is recognized.
However, being an American is not only about recognizing the opportunity, it is also about responsibility. The Declaration explains that governments are created to “secure these rights,” which means these freedoms must be respected and upheld.
This responsibility belongs to individuals as well. A student who takes their education seriously, a person who contributes to their community or someone who treats others with fairness is living out what it means to be American. These everyday choices give meaning to the ideals the country was built on.
Ultimately, an American is someone who understands that opportunity is not guaranteed everywhere and chooses not to waste it. The label matters because it represents a commitment to value what has been given, to use it well and to contribute to something larger than oneself.
The meaning of America is not found only in its founding words, but in the lives of those who choose to live by them every day.
Zahra Abdulameer, 14, is a rising sophomore at Lookout Valley Middle High School. She lives in Chattanooga.
What is an American?
Dozens of Chattanooga area high school students answered that question in essays marking the America 250 anniversary, participating in a contest held by the Times Free Press and the Chattanooga Area Historical Association.
This essay by Zahra Abdulameer of Chattanooga was chosen as the second-place winner. Read the essays that placed first and third and look for excerpts from more of our honorable-mention essays in the next few weeks.