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Do Americans appreciate the Fourth of July?

Fireworks explode over the National Mall in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.
Fireworks explode over the National Mall in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

In the days before the Fourth of July, many Americans begin to gear up for the celebration which this year marked the 239th anniversary of America’s independence.

Whether it’s eating hamburgers or seeing a fireworks show, many Americans like to party on the special day.

“It’s definitely a focal point of the summer,” said Chris Morgan, 25, from Gaithersburg, Maryland.

As of July 2, Morgan planned to party with his friends, one of which will be meeting him in Pennsylvania with his fellow hikers from the Appalachian Trail. Morgan has many Fourth of July memories from previous years as well, including a glow-stick party in his neighbor’s pool and a firework show over Camden Yards in Baltimore.

There’s no doubt that Americans do their share of partying on the Fourth of July. But is this partying aimed towards the right cause? Is there appropriate reverence for the actions of America’s forefathers?

Buddy Bonner, 48, said the answer is “no.”

“I think we got a gross departure from appreciation with what our freedoms are,” Bonner said. “It’s more than likely just viewed as another day off from work.”

Bonner even admitted that he might be one of those people who does not hold the Fourth of July in high enough regard.

For some, the lack of appreciation of the Fourth of July is rooted in a lack of education.

“What happened exactly only the Fourth of July?” said Kevin Quinto, a 16-year-old from North Carolina. “If you asked 10 people at least five of them wouldn’t know.”

For Francesca Coyne, 18, of Pennsylvania, the holiday brings people together.

“Its really cool to see everybody get together and appreciate something,” Coyne said.

“It’s very rare that you can get a group silent and appreciate something,” Coyne later said.

Marsel Ganeycv, 18, an international student, said the Fourth of July is a worthy celebration for the independence of the country.

“I have a t-shirt with stars and people say ‘I have the same t-shirt,'” Ganeycv said. “They’re all so friendly.”

Like Coyne, Ganeycv sees the holiday as a way to bring people together.

“When you see the fireworks, something is happening in your soul,” Ganeycv said. “You feel that you’re apart of the whole crowd.”

 

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Enrolled and prospective students alike weigh in on college

As the next school year approaches, many high school students are about to make the transition to a university, whether they like it or not.

For some, college presents an opportunity to meet new friends and study interesting courses, but for others it’s a difficult move accompanied by anxiety and fear of the unknown.

“I come from a really small, conservative school,” said Tatiana Melendez, a 16-year-old student in between her junior and senior year of high school attending a summer program at American University. “So, going to college is going be like an ocean of new things.”

A majority of students interviewed on American’s Northwest Washington D.C. campus this week are excited to attend college but some like Jonah Gelfand, 16, a rising senior from Westchester, New York, had their doubts about how easy the jump would be.

“I think it’s a good mix of both, I don’t really think there’s one that’s outweighing the other,” Gelfand said.

Jonah Gelfand, 16, looks ahead toward college.
Jonah Gelfand, 16, looks ahead toward college.

Current college students including 20-year-old Matthew Wilson, a junior at American University studying economics and political science, understood Gelfand and other high school students’ fears.

“I was naturally apprehensive about going,” Wilson said.

“I wish I could tell myself to just relax a lot more and trust the process,” Wilson said later. “Every other student entering college is probably feeling the same way that you are.”

Wilson, a native of Wethersfield, Connecticut, said he never felt like he couldn’t handle the distance to Washington D.C., which is a 6.5-hour drive from home. Even before arriving on campus, the fear of eating alone in the dining hall troubled him more than any potential academic challenges.

“A lot of schools have orientation programs,” Wilson said. “When I came to orientation I met a lot of people. I met my best friend.”

Meenal Goyal, 19, a sophomore and psychology major at American University, had very few doubts about college when she was a prospective student. In addition to specifically seeking out a school far from home, Goyal also said she focused on getting a good scholarship from the beginning of high school.

“I was all gung-ho about it,” Goyal said.

In Washington D.C., Goyal is 10 hours from her home in Hudson, New Hampshire, but she said it was what she wanted. She offered advice to prospective college students: College is incredibly diverse and that everyone can and will find their niche.

Many students interviewed this week noted that in the end they felt like college has or will be a positive experience.

“Have fun,” Wilson said. “Everyone is in the same boat.”