What is an American?

An American person, in my view is basically who I am. I am an American, I have a religious freedom, and I am free to do what I want in life. I think that the word American doesn’t just mean living in America; it has another meaning to it. Stream of consciousness helped in wording my thoughts in what an American is. An American can have many meanings. Therefore many people have different ideas on what they believe it is.

The question “What is an American?” is like a word you know but you don’t know the exact definition of it because you never think about it. I believe that living in America gives you your rights and freedom, what you do with your rights and freedom is what makes you an American, what I do in life makes me an American. Everyday choices like where I live and breath makes me an American. For example one has to make a decision to eat fast food or to eat really healthy food. To be an American is enjoying your rights as a human being, living in democracy.

Being an American does not just mean being a certain ethnicity, gender, age, or what kind of car you drive. I wake up everyday to go to school just like thousands of other students. It does not even have to be in high school; it could be elementary school, middle school, or even college. I think that going to school by choice and determining what kind of grades I get makes me an American.

In most television shows and movies it shows the American as secret spies who live their lives in adrenaline and guns. I think that it’s only half correct. Because being an American gives you that right to do what you want. For example, one could become a top secret spy, cop, or a marine officer. Being an American gives you those natural rights which are life, liberty, and property, or the goals of our government.

Everyone has their own personal definition of an American and some thoughts might be the same, and some might be different than others. My thoughts are basically what I live and deal with in everyday life. I learned that I get to make my own choices in America and I can live my life anyway I want to. In the dictionary it states that an American is a citizen of America. I don’t fully agree with that. Well it does make you an American citizen, but doesn’t give you any meaning into it. An American is not a word that labels you as something, but rather something you are or an experience you gain.