Candle of Hope by Ximena

Candle of Hope by Ximena - October 2017 Scholarship Essay

As a young immigrant who got to the U.S. at the age of sixteen, I was well aware of my country’s history, yet only knew the most important and basic history of the United States. As so, what was taught in my history lessons were knew to me and I would take it all in because knowledge is what pushes us forward, and yet I realize I did not do it only for knowledge, but because I had gotten passionate about it. And the thing I remember the most was when in class we were watching a documentary of World War II, and how even in the darkest of times, president Franklin D. Roosevelt was like a candle which lit up this country. Therefore, if I could have dinner with a U.S. president, I would pick him.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a different type of president, if you ask me – he tried to change the Supreme Court, he tried to go over the Constitution, he was president for four terms, sometimes, you’d think that would be a bad president, but his reasons were far from evil. In a country which was being devastated by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, where the economy had plummeted and the way of living had deteriorated, and where a war was looming over, Roosevelt resorted to the extremes, in an attempt to aid those who he worked for – the people –, because that was just the kind of person he was; a person who would try everything that could be done to bring the country to his feet once more, who would stand against the rules to make things better, and who is the president the people always ask for – someone who would act as they say, and who would always put the citizens first.
There is a second thing for which I would wish to meet Roosevelt, which can be simplified into two words: fireside chats. While the never-ending determination of Roosevelt to bring the country back to what it was (and better) is a characteristic thing of him, the most important part for me is his way of bringing hope with a couple of words. He would have the entire country waiting by the radio, ready to hear from him, whether it was a short or long conversation, an update, or simple words, he was a bringer of hope in a time where not only was it needed, but it was necessary to keep believing that everything would be better. Roosevelt would enter the hearts of Americans, and become part of them as much as they were part of him – he was the true representation of a president who is for the people and by the people, which is the fundamental concept in which the United States was built upon.
For those reasons, I chose Franklin D. Roosevelt to have dinner with, because even with all he was facing, he became the light which would stop the darkness sweeping into this nation, and he would put the country first, not only because it was his responsibility but also his value and respect. He is the president who put up hope not only in the hearts of the Americans back then, but also in my own, and who made me believe more than before in the greatness of this country. As such, it would be a great desire of my part to be able to meet with him and ask him how, even with all the events which shadowed his presidency, he was able to maintain the strength and determination to inspire all, and inspire me in the way.