This I Believe

This I learned from just looking at a picture.

One of my most cherished family heirlooms is a picture of my grandfather and uncle in World War II. In it, they are posing in their army uniforms looking very dignified and proud. This picture is what drew me into history. I always wanted to know what my grandfather and uncle were thinking and feeling in this picture. I should mention that my grandfather and my uncle are Japanese Americans from Hawaii. During the war, they were not placed in internment camps, but instead were allowed to join the armies Japanese-American 442nd combat unit. As Americans of Japanese descent, they were asked to partake in a war that could potentially put them into direct conflict with their own people of Japan. I mean think about it, they are still Japanese.

There it is – - they are part of the great melting pot of America. My fascination with this picture has helped form part of what I believe as an American. It has inspired me to pursue through further schooling a new career in teaching high school history. When looking at this picture of my family, I believe that I hope to become a teacher who can teach his students that it is possible to see so much about their lives and the world around them by just looking at an old family picture from their own pasts. In other words, all of our stories as Americans count as part of the collective experience of being an American. This I believe. Thank You.