I feel very fortunate to live in the United States. As a political science major, I am interested in how various nations function throughout the world and which ones make an effort to serve their citizens best. Since our country’s founding, America has always been about freedom and the protection of the rights of the people. Though it may be cliche, I am proud to be an American and I feel a sense of obligation to give back to my country. Currently, I am a member of the Naval ROTC unit at UCLA and I plan to commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy upon graduation. In order to serve as an officer in the United States military, one must have a great sense of national pride, for in putting on the uniform he is representing the country and all for which it stands. I am very proud of two of my family members, my uncle on my mom’s side who flew in the Air Force after attending the Air Force Academy, and my uncle on my dad’s side who fought in the Army during the Vietnam War. They did our country a great service and I feel called to follow in their footsteps. The pride I have in my country and that of those who raised me has led me to make a commitment to military service.
From a young age, I was always taught the importance of family. Though mine may be a bit unconventional as I was raised by my mom and stepdad, that does not mean that I felt any less of a connection to my familial roots. In fact, this situation probably led me to discover the significance of having a supportive family more so than I would have realized living in a standard family setup. My stepdad, though technically not of my same blood, grew up in a household of eight siblings and dozens of cousins and was the one who imposed the idea on me so passionately. I am proud to have such a great, loving family and I want to do them well by going to college and pursuing an honorable profession. I strive to be the best I can be because I take pride in upholding the family name.
Finally, my faith has served as a guiding force throughout my life. Attending catechism classes during elementary and middle school and going to a Catholic high school, I came to learn much information about Catholic history and passages of the Bible but also grew in my own faith as a person. Going through the sacrament of Confirmation made me especially proud of my faith and gave me a sense of security in my commitment to Catholicism. Because I am proud of my faith, I try to uphold the values of the Church in all that I do, seeking to live a morally righteous life with a clear conscience. My faith has served me well in making some difficult ethical decisions.
If pride gets out of hand, it can turn into hubris. Though I certainly do not wish to go down that path, maintaining a high level of pride in life’s endeavors reassures me as I know I am doing the right thing. Whether serving my country, representing my family, or living out my faith, I do what I do with pride.
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