What is an American?
Every country has a story. Most countries were formed by people who wanted a better life. They had the courage to leave what they knew and go to a new place for the idea that there was something better out there. America was formed by these types of people. The people who first came over had no idea what to expect but they still got on a boat and sailed to a new place looking for a better life. The Native Americans were here before America was even considered an ideal place. They discovered America and when the Europeans came over the different cultures clashed violently. The two groups did not get along but they were both essential for the formation of the United States Of America. All the groups of people who contributed to forming America are the people who are considered Americas. Not because they were from America but because they had the ideals of a person that is an American. They wanted the American Dream. The American Dream is prosperity, equality, and democracy. Everybody wants the American Dream but only a certain type of person will go out and get it. Being an American does not just mean living in America. Being an American is a type of spirit. It is: wanting better for yourself and others, seizing the opportunity, and working hard. You must want more to get more. If you are going to better yourself and others you have to want to. Everything starts as an idea before it is an action. A person can’t just want something for it to happen though they have to seize the opportunities that come upon them. When presented the opportunity you have to work hard and turn the opportunities into results. An American never gives up because they want better and are willing to work for it.

Wanting better is the beginning to achieving more. Everybody’s success started as a want for better. “An American is anyone who loves life enough to want the best that it has to offer.” (Hudgins) If someone doesn’t love life then they won’t want to try hard and achieve the best. You must have hope for something to improve before it actually can improve. This quote relates to the definition of an American because one must love life and want the best to get the best. They have to embrace the spirit of happiness and hope.

An American wants better for themselves and others. To do this one must seize the opportunities that come upon them. An opportunity means nothing unless it is taken advantage of. "An American is anyone who understands that to achieve the best in life requires action, exertion, effort" (Hudgins) Being an American means bettering yourself. You work hard to create opportunity. The chance for being great doesn't just come along, you have to go out and find it. When an opportunity comes along you have to take action and put in effort. This relates to the definition of an American through the way that an opportunity means nothing until it is taken of advantage of. An American is the person who will take advantage of the opportunity. An American is someone who doesn’t wait for something to change. They take advantage of opportunities and turn them into success.

Turning opportunities into success is hard work. It requires dedication and sticktoitiveness. Most successful business owners failed many times before they were successful. They stuck with their idea and finally became successful. A true American knows that things will not change if they sit around and do nothing. They know their actions are what change the world. “ Here individuals of all naturals are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great change in the world." (Decrevecoeur) When the immigrants came over there was not one common race. Everybody came from different places and all had different cultures. The one thing they had in common though, was the willingness to work hard to turn the opportunities they had into success. All the individuals were very different but they all worked towards one common goal which was to be successful. This relates to the definition of an American because they know it doesn’t matter what race you are. Being an American is a race of its own. One full of people who are willing to work hard enough to turn opportunities into success Americans know hard work always pays off. They know even if it seems small and unimportant in the moment that it will make a difference later. An American is always willing to work hard and d o the little things because they know it will better them in the future.

Being an American doesn't mean living in America it means embracing the spirit of America. America stands for many things but the main thing it stands for is working to better yourself. Nothing good comes easy. That is why an American is willing to work hard for something good. Being an American is a type of spirit. It is: wanting better for yourself and others, seizing the opportunity, and working hard.