I am your typical American; there is no doubt about that. At only 20 years old, I have experienced a lot of life, and hopefully there is a lot more to come. I have failed and I have succeeded. I have struggled and overcame, only to struggle again. I have lost loved ones and gained new ones. I am student that works hard to secure her future. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, and so much more. I am German, Native American, French, Italian, Irish, and probably a lot more that I don’t even know about. But more importantly, I am an American. This may be your story, or it may not be. Right now our country must decide to not focus on what makes us different, but what brings us together. Regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, color, culture, or sexual preference, we are lucky enough to call America our home. It is now time for all of us- young, old, black, white, rich, poor, democrat, republican- to come together for our country, like so many generations before have, before it is too late. It is time to set aside hate, and come together because we are the people of the United States.

America, this land we love, was built by ordinary men, with extraordinary vision for our country and future. Our country has fought through unimaginable times in its relatively short life. We have seen incredible highs and unbearable lows, some that we have brought on to ourselves. This land of the free is in no way perfect, but it is our land, and it is time we start acting like it again. It is time for Americans to be proud to be Americans.

Men and women have given their lives for the freedoms that you and me have. They have fought for their fellows Americans to gain and keep the foundation on which this country is built on: that everyone is created equal. This past week we were reminded that once again, our nation is being threatened. Not only with threats from around the world, but also within.

The leaders in the capitol have taken over, lead us to debt, and lost the vision this country once had. The system is corrupt with men and women that have their own personal agenda and have no respect for the people that make up this land we all call home. We were once respected, even feared around the world with the title of the world’s most powerful country. Our allies have lost trust in us while our enemies laugh at our future.

Our neighbors are murdered for being different. Our police officers are murdered in the streets for doing their job. Kids shoot each other destroying families, neighborhoods, and even cities. Our military is no longer treated with respect while our veterans come home to nothing. Our youth is drowning in debt before their lives have even started. Our prisons are over packed; all while criminals continue to be our leaders in Washington. It is time we realize that our history is being rewritten right in front of our eyes, and we continue to give the top few the pens to write with. These leaders no longer represent We The People.

America the Great has fallen. When we fall in life we have two options: cry and stay weak, or get up and become stronger than ever before. Our country now has those same two options. It is now time to make that decision.

I am ready to take the hands of all my fellow Americans, no matter our differences, to make our country stronger than ever. This will be no easy task and we will be knocked down more than once, but we must fight for generations to come, like those who did before us. It is time to stop stomping on our flag, and to fly it high so that we can take back our country that was built for The People, by The People. Together we can fight the evils that surround us at home and abroad.

The threats we face our real and become more alive each and every day. Our Presidential nominee choices are pitiful; we have neighbors being murdered for being Americans, and the corruption in our system is more evident than ever. We don’t have time to wait. The time for change is now.

I may be young and naive, call me crazy if you have to, but I refuse to give up on this country. Our mothers, fathers, brothers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, friends and strangers have given us the foundation and now it is time for us to do something with it for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to come.

The power of Americans standing together is one to be feared by all. But when we are separated, we are weak. Do not give up on this country. Do not give up on the American People. It is time we stand together as one. It is time we become once more, “We the People of the United States.”