Thomas Trozzo Wins Veterans Essay Contest - "Why I'm Optimistic About Our Nation's Future"

Thomas TrozzoThomas Trozzo  a junior at Smithtown HSE was one of 200+ high school students who participated in the VFW’s Essay Contest.  Tom took first place in the contest with the following essay which he read to attendees at Smithtown’s Veterans Day Ceremony. The audience listened and many nodded in agreement as he spoke “… we all believe that it is our duty to better the world and ensure that all people have access to freedom and rights. It is our pride and perseverance for the freedoms and rights we believe in that sets us apart from any other country in the world and ensures our nation’s success in the future.”          

“Why I’m Optimistic About our Nation’s Future?”

Our nation’s 44^th and current president, Barrack Obama, once said, “There is, of course, no way of knowing what new challenges and new possibilities will emerge over the next forty years.”  Obama recognizes that the future of our country is indefinite and that history can change its course at any time.  However, he also recognizes the possibility of significant advancement in the next forty years.  Because we have been a well-established and proud country since July 4^th, 1776, we have many reasons to believe that our nation’s future is positive.  Looking at our history, we have many reasons to remain optimistic for our future.  Our country wields great power that enables us to overcome our obstacles and we have continuously grown as a power over the 237 years we’ve been established.  Not only have we accomplished many things as a country, but we are Americans.  We are a special country in that American people consist of all different ages, nationalities, genders, religions and cultures.  However, our people contain one major similarity; we all believe that it is our duty to better the world and ensure that all people have access to freedom and rights. It is our pride and perseverance for the freedoms and rights we believe in that sets us apart from any other country in the world and ensures our nation’s success in the future. 

Our country contains both the physical and moral power to defend itself and what it stands for.  First off, the physical power that our country contains in our Armed Forces is immense.  Our Army has approximately 3 million enlisted members.  Our Air Force contains over 15,000 aircraft.  Our navy consists of over 290 ships including 61 destroyers.  Our Military contains over 25,000 armored vehicles.  On top of that, our defense budget of approximately 700 billion dollars is richer than many nations’ total wealth.  However, what truly differentiates our military from the militaries of other powers is our determination to help others.  For example, the United States Armed Forces has intervened in many world problems in order to ensure that all humans are being given their basic freedoms and rights.  We have aided the citizens of Somalia, Haiti, Iraq, Yemen, Poland, Nicaragua, Libya, and many more.  It is our moral objective to do good that ensures our country’s success for many years to come.  By persistently fighting for what we believe in, our country is unstoppable because we contain the power to keep fighting despite tragedies and obstacles.  For example, on the tragic day of September 11^th, 2001, our nation had its first major terror crisis.  Although it set us back emotionally by the deaths of loved ones and physically by the destruction of the World Trade Centers, we have rebounded since then and ensured that such a tragedy does not happen again.  We have replaced the two towers that symbolize the freedom and power of our country as well as heightened security to prevent future attacks.  Although our nation is still saddened by the evils of some people to cause harm to innocent others, we are constantly working to create a more peaceful world.  Through the power of our nation’s Armed Forces and the drive of our morals to do good, it is easy to remain optimistic about our future. 

Since the adoption of the Constitution in 1787, we have grown and developed as a country to meet the needs of our ever changing society.  For example, when it was necessary to amend our constitution because the majority of Americans felt the need for a document that guaranteed their rights, the Bill of Rights was proposed in 1789 and ratified in 1791.  This is just one example of how America was able to change over time in order to keep people happy and fulfill people’s needs in the ever changing world.  The ability of the American government to adapt to its environment makes a very promising argument that we can overcome the obstacles that may be thrown at us in the future.  Another reason why Americans should remain optimistic about our future is the fact that our technology and scientific knowledge is expanding rapidly every day.  From the creation of small things like the iPhone to major military weapons such as the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, from the discovery of vaccines to the creation of atomic weapons, our knowledge is rapidly expanding.  As long as we keep up with our findings, which we will due to the increased importance of education and the expanding technology and science fields, our country will remain a prominent world power.  Our country’s ability to adapt to change and our research in the fields of technology and science give us a lot to be optimistic about in the future.

While some may be pessimistic about the future of America because it is simply unknown, there are many great reasons to be optimistic about our nation’s future.  America is special in that it holds great power to promote change, it can constantly adapt to its surroundings, and our researchers are always learning more about the world around us as well as creating new technologies to improve our lives.  Despite our different backgrounds, all true Americans fight strongly for what they believe in and accept nothing less than success.  Believing in our future success and hard work to achieve our goals will ensure our nations prosperity.