Being An American

We read an article this week about 13 values Americans live by, and it made me realize how American I am because I believe in all of those values. Those values were further illustrated in Bemused in America, which is a German writing about the differences her notices in American values and German values seen in everyday life like jogging or going to the grocery store. When I was little I was always kind of confused and I didn't know how to identify myself since I'm mixed race. Some kids would think of me as Asian, some would see me as white, and I was always so confused. My dad was born in Japan, and I'm a quarter Japanese, and my mom is Polish and was born in Chicago. When I grew older though, I began to see myself as just an American, and being Japanese and Polish, and whatever else I am is only my heritage. I'm like a melting pot. I was born in America, and raised in America, and that makes me American, with American values. Our values reflect the culture and society we grow up in.