Being of Romanian origin in the United States

¶ … Romanian origin is one of my most unique personal characteristics. Although I am still young, my parents have made what life was like in Romania come to life to me, through their many recounted experiences and their inspiring example of how much they have suffered in their lives. Romania was one of the poorest countries in the former Soviet Block. A dictator controlled all of the citizen's lives for most of the nation's post-World War II political and economic history. Because of this tyranny, all available funds and luxury goods were funneled to enrich the persons in power, not the common people.

The people of Romania were not awarded privileges, good jobs, and even food by their merits, or how hard they worked. Instead, they were rewarded by how well they served the party in power. People not part of the party had to wait in long lines for basic goods, for everything from bread to bicycles. Also, because birth control was prohibited in Romania, and because of the diseases that ran rampant in the population, many children were committed to orphans when they were born. The legacy of Romania's communist and oppressive history is written across the faces of the children, whom are often seen on television shows about American couples who wish to adopt children from abroad. Although to some people, these children are merely sorry sights that they shake their heads towards, in my eyes, I see these children as to what might have been, what might have happened to me, if I did not have the privilege of dwelling in the United States.

Living in the United States is indeed a privilege, which is often forgotten, I believe, by some natural-born citizens. It is easy to take freedom for granted. Voting is simply a bother, something to tuck into one's schedule between picking up the children from soccer practice or stopping at the grocery store after work. This is not the case for my parents. My parents have stressed that because of my unique Romanian heritage, voting is a sacred civic duty. In Romania, people would have sacrificed their lives to vote. Also, the Presidential election of 2000 highlights the fact that even in America, every vote matters. When I am able to vote, I will be the first person standing in line, ready and proud to make my voice heard for democracy, even though I am as yet uncertain for whom I will cast that vote.

It has also been instilled within me that it is necessary always to do one's best, because America is a meritocracy. This means that people succeed on their merits, and are judged on the basis of how hard they work, and their innate talents, rather than on the loyalty they show to a particular party or individual. In America, although the system of justice occasionally works imperfectly, no one is above the law, and commerce and free enterprise means that opportunities exist to improve one's lot in life beyond one's wildest dreams. This is why I have tried so hard to succeed in school.