My name is Dhruvesh Amin and I am an American.

I was born in the United States but my parents were born in India. In my home, we practice a specific sect of Hinduism known as BAPS Swaminarayan. My religion has played a huge role in shaping me into the young man I am today. Among other things, my religion teaches me respect, tolerance, and non-violence. In my sect, we are lead by the Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj; a man who has lived a life of sacrifice and who has served as both a role model and inspiration to me.

When I was very young, I lived outside of Washington D.C. in an apartment complex. The neighborhood I lived in was not a great place for children but my sister and I always had everything we needed; our parents worked very hard to provide for us. I remember things being hard when I was young and I remember my parents being very worried about making ends meet as well as worrying about where we lived. As criminal activity in my neighborhood increased, my parents decided it was time for us to move away and so we wound up in Frederick.

When asked about my patriotism I guess I would have to say that the thing I love most about my country is our diversity. I also believe that this is our greatest strength as a nation. People from all walks of life live and work together, we celebrate together we laugh together and we mourn together. I also believe America is a land of opportunity and I believe that, if I work hard, I will be successful. In fact, my plan, moving on from High School, is to go to pursue a career in medicine with, perhaps, an emphasis on research.

The thing that troubles me most about my country, especially recently, is the rise in xenophobia. When I see potential political leaders make blatantly xenophobic and racist statements, and I see how many people support these leaders, it worries me greatly. I don’t believe that an America rooted in racism, fear, and ignorant ideologies is an America with a great future. I think of the words of Robert Green Ingersol who wrote “Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.”

My name is Dhruvesh Amin and I am an American