What 250 Means to Me

The year was 1776. The sky was clear, and the summer air was comfortably warm. The Pennsylvania State House stood triumphantly in the heart of Philadelphia, overflowing with apprehension about an uncertain cause: the establishment of a new nation. Inside, fifty-six delegates pledged their lives to defend their natural rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

250 years later, America’s founding ideals—equality, limited government, and justice—still guide our nation forward. Constitutional rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, and the press enable citizens to express their opinions and hold the government accountable. From every corner of society, people of diverse ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds can look to the Statue of Liberty and expect to live out their American Dream.

We can celebrate our freedoms today by honoring the innovations and sacrifices of those who built this country. Through the institution of a novel form of government, the founding fathers laid a foundation strong enough to bend yet never break—a system built to evolve and advance with the years.

Through two and a half centuries of independence, our nation has embraced countless stories as part of our shared history, valuing the narratives and accomplishments of all Americans. We commemorate the story of the farmer from New England, the enslaved person striving to be free in the South, and the immigrant passing through Ellis Island. The American people themselves are the greatest strength of our democracy.

This year’s celebrations are a moment to reflect on the privilege of living in a country where people have the freedom to govern their lives according to their own standards. But autonomy brings with it a responsibility: We should move beyond simply enjoying the benefits of a free society and also consider our role in actively maintaining it.

Now is the time to build a more perfect union for future generations. The youth of today are the engineers shaping the society of tomorrow. Fostering a spirit of adventure and innovation will advance the nation—step by step, idea by idea.

Additionally, it is vital for all Americans to realize that they cannot let their views be silenced by external forces. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions and is guaranteed the right to voice them. I hope the 250th anniversary of America will not only instill in younger generations a sense of patriotism but also remind people of the importance of supporting one another despite our differing beliefs.

Anniversaries are not just for looking backward; they are for looking forward. All Americans should use this historic milestone as an invitation to imagine what the next quarter millennium might hold. It is now our generation's turn to carry forward the torch lit by our founders. Let us continue this noble work, as the echo of our voices will ring out for centuries.

In 2026, the United States will reach its 250th anniversary. That’s two and a half centuries of independence, two and a half centuries of liberty, two and a half centuries since the Declaration of Independence was signed. This sounds like something worth celebrating, and it is. But for me and many others, this is not just a 250-year-old’s birthday party. It’s a reminder of both triumphs and pains.

Growing up in the United States I’ve been told that America is the greatest country, the land of the free, the land of opportunity. I was told this country was a model for the world, but what exactly are we modeling? Democracy, freedom, and a melting pot of people from all over, of course. But what about today’s violent crime and drug addiction? The 20th century’s wars and the Great Depression? The 18th and 19th centuries and slavery? The truth is that we don’t use the past to model the future; we use the future to improve upon our past.

The 1800s was redefined with the abolition of slavery and the beginning of a civil rights movement. The fighting and depression of the 1900s resulted in the United Nations and government protections such as Social Security and minimum wage laws. The point is that this country isn’t without flaws. It isn’t a country that was ever perfect, and that’s why it has lasted so long. This country learns from its mistakes and redefines the limits of society.

So what does 250 years mean to me? It means we’ve come a long way, but not far enough. It means we should celebrate the progress we’ve made, while recognizing the harm we’ve caused, to Indigenous people, enslaved African Americans, minorities, the environment, other nations, and most importantly to the floating rock we call Earth.

The young generation is the one that will inherit the country. We’ve studied our past challenges and we see the effects of our present-day problems. We live in a digital world where anyone can hide behind screens and ruin people's lives. We know that by the time we’re talking about “what 500 means to me,” our descendants will write about what we went through, and they will also talk about how we overcame such challenges.

As young people, we get to choose what happens next. Will we be a country that delivers promises, or one that continues the same mistakes? Will we be a democracy in name only, or one that actually represents the people? Will we be a place of inclusion, or division?

America at 250 isn’t just a number or celebration. It’s a test. And while I don’t know everything the future holds, I do know that whatever we’ve done wrong in the past we have always been able to rise. The fight to recreate is always larger than the fight to create. The fight to build a United States that lasts as long as the stars is a fight worth having. It always has been, and it always will be.