The following is the winning high school entry for the Network of Enlightened Women’s 2026 Essay Contest. Be sure to follow NeW on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or sign up for the NeWsletter to stay informed about the 2027 Essay Contest.
The most powerful reminder of what America’s founding principles mean came from watching my mom take her oath and become a United States citizen just three months ago. Seeing how emotional that moment was for her brought the ideas of the Declaration of Independence to life in a way that a textbook never could.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Those revolutionary words, written 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence, mean just as much today as they did in 1776. Such liberty was a completely innovative idea at the time, and the Declaration was the first document in history to lay out these principles as the foundation for a new nation. The ideals within that document have stood the test of time and continue to influence how we understand freedom, government, responsibility, and individual rights in the United States of America today.
The idea that all men are created equal was unheard of back then. The world at that point had been structured around layers of superior rank such as kings, queens, and other nobility. Unalienable rights were also a radical, new concept. The term “unalienable” means that these rights are not granted by other people and cannot be taken away. These rights belong to every person simply because he or she is human. Government, created by the people, does not grant these rights; it exists to protect them. This concept is what made America truly unique and special.
The Constitution that followed in 1787 is the most effective safeguard of that liberty described in the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution limits the power that government holds by dividing it among different branches and establishing checks and balances. The intention was to stop any one group from gaining too much control and prevent the tyranny that had been the common problem of rulership in the world at that time. The purpose of government is to serve the people, not control them, and by distributing that power, individual liberty is protected.
However, the government does not always play the role that the Founders intended. While it was designed to be limited, there are times when it becomes too involved in situations that should be left to individuals and communities to decide for themselves. At the same time, people can become too reliant on government and depend on it instead of themselves. When government goes beyond its original purpose, it weakens the freedoms it was created to protect. The Constitution was never meant to protect itself. It depends on “We the People” to uphold it. Personal responsibility comes into play to do that.
THE AMERICAN DREAM MARCHES ON
My mom taking her oath was about more than simply becoming American. For her, it was a promise that she took to heart to uphold the values that make this country special and the freedoms she now cherishes. It is easy to take citizenship for granted when it is something you have had your whole life. Experiencing it through the eyes of someone who has long awaited it was very humbling for me. I now have a deeper understanding of the responsibility that comes with being an American and the importance of protecting the freedoms that we enjoy.
As America reaches 250 years of independence, the ideas of equality, unalienable rights, limited government, and personal responsibility are still just as important today. These principles have lasted because they are strong and meaningful, and they are what we should reflect on and truly celebrate every July 4th. It is up to each generation of Americans to understand them, value them, and protect them so that the freedoms established at the founding of our country will continue into the future.
Emma Hurley is a student at Niagara Wheatfield High School.