As I have grown and evolved, so I have observed the same for our great country. On this 250th birthday of the United States of America, it feels like the right time to step back and appreciate just how far we’ve come — and what still lies ahead.
When I was just 9 years old, I hit the road with my dad and our dog. We traveled over 100,000 miles across dozens of states, talking to everyday Americans at rallies, protests, conferences, and small-town diners. I wanted to understand why our country felt so divided. The way the same story could look completely different depending on which channel you watched didn’t make sense to me. So I decided to go out and hear it straight from the people.
Only in America could a kid with a camera and a notebook do that. People opened up to me in ways they might not have to an adult reporter. I heard hopes, frustrations, dreams, and fears from all sides. I learned that disagreement doesn’t have to mean hate or rejection. It can lead to understanding, better ideas, and real growth — what I call “civil disagreement.” That lesson has stuck with me ever since.
Fast forward to today. I’ve finished high school and chosen to continue serving our nation in a different way. I completed Navy boot camp and am now training with E.O.D. — Explosive Ordnance Disposal. It’s challenging, but I’m proud to be part of the greatest military in the world. What amazes me is that I get to make this choice freely. In many countries, young people don’t have that option, or they’re forced into service. Here, it’s voluntary. That freedom is one of the things that makes America exceptional.
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of brave men signed a Declaration that said all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They risked everything to build something new. Generations since then have fought, worked, argued, and sacrificed to keep that experiment alive. We’ve had our darkest moments and our proudest victories. Through it all, America has remained a place where a kid reporter can crisscross the country chasing truth, and where that same young man can later put on the uniform to protect what makes it possible.
As we celebrate this Semiquincentennial, I hope every American takes a moment to talk to someone who sees things differently. Ask them why they believe what they believe. Listen more than you speak. Remember that we’re all part of this same grand story. The division we sometimes feel is real, but so is our shared history and the incredible opportunities this country still offers.
The next 250 years will be shaped by the choices we make today — especially by young people stepping up to serve, innovate, and heal divides. I’m grateful for the journey so far, and excited for what comes next.
Only in America.