When I was 4 years old, my father was sworn in as a United States citizen. I vividly remember the day, down to the dress my mother had picked out for me to wear. Growing up the daughter of an immigrant in the United States, I always loved being American: Independence Day is my favorite holiday, I had a passion for civics in school, and was so proud of the “American dream.”
But as a college student living in the United States in 2026, my feelings are more complicated.
I can’t help but view the country I love so deeply in a different way than I once did. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, ideological divides among my generation are at an all-time high. In the “land of the free,” women are losing their right to choose. What I had once seen as a nation made up of immigrants is turning on immigrant communities. As an education major in the “land of opportunity,” my field of study is no longer considered a “professional degree” — a financial barrier that will surely prohibit other college students from pursuing it.Â
In college, I quickly discovered that not everyone felt the same way I did about certain topics. Issues that were so personal to me, such as immigrant rights and access to reproductive healthcare, were suddenly up for debate in an academic setting. Not only that, but during conversations with my peers, I began to notice that to some, patriotism was synonymous with having no criticism of this country — with the takeaway message being: If you don’t like what the government is doing, then you should leave.
Given how much my family members sacrificed to come to the U.S., this phrase is infuriating to me. No one loves America more than those who were willing to leave behind everything they’d ever known to come to America, to pursue the American dream. Why should any of us settle for anything less than that?
Today, speaking up is no longer an option, but a necessity.
To me, loving my country will always mean more than simply waving the American flag on the Fourth of July and reposting whatever the president says on social media. Loving your country means wanting it to be the best it can be, and — most importantly — speaking out when it is not.Â
Today, speaking up is no longer an option, but a necessity. Americans exercising their freedom of speech against wrongdoing — even if it may seem “unpatriotic” — is vital to ensuring a future where the United States lives up to what it promised to be 250 years ago, and every day since then.Â
When injustice feels daunting, it’s so easy to feel small. I find myself asking: What good can I do? After all, I am just one of millions of Americans who’ve lived in this country in the last 250 years. But while it’s easy to feel helpless, it’s important to remember the progress America has made throughout the past two and a half centuries would not have been possible without the individual who chose to stand up and speak up for what’s right. I love my country enough to believe that it can do better, with each of us using our voices for a brighter future.Â
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamt of becoming a writer. From writing letters to the president in elementary school to reporting on culture for a national publication for college students, writing has always been how I’ve used my voice for change. How will you use yours?
This summer, for America’s 250th anniversary, the largest youth generation in U.S. history is shaping what comes next. Young people nationwide are invited to create Letters to America — writing, art, video, performances and music, reflecting on your story, your community, and your country. You can add your voice to the living archive curated by Made By Us at youth250.org/letters.Â