On the eve of this historic election, I have reflected extensively on my journey to become an American citizen and what truly makes America great. I immigrated to the United States to pursue my education in 1986. I was born in Turkey – a critical ally which will feature prominently in the next Administration’s foreign policy decisions.
{mosads}Next week, my daughter is casting her vote in Pennsylvania in her first Presidential election. Her eight year old younger sister has been inspired and focused in a way I have never seen. I have raised a family and built a multinational organics food business in the key swing region of the Keystone State. As I listened to President Bill Clinton visit Albright College last Friday and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) at Muhlenberg College last Wednesday, I could not help but focus more of my attention on the enthusiastic chatter of the students in the audience. It is this generation that is and will make America even greater.
Our nation has a higher education system that is the envy of the world. If we buttress this with universal pre-kindergarten and further harness the innate American ingenuity, we are on the cusp of a generation of unprecedented scientific advances.
In 1986, I was one of eight students from Turkey provided a full scholarship study in the United States. Thirty years ago, technology was rapidly changing American lives and foreign policy dominated the news. However, the difference now is that our classrooms are filled with more diverse voices than ever before. This diversity promotes the free exchange of ideas leading to unprecedented research and scientific breakthroughs.
There are 84 million Americans who are immigrants or children of immigrants. We came here with unique dreams, but all with an entrepreneurial spirit. While looking around at the two colleges last week, I was reminded of what I learned studying for my citizenship test. Our Founding Fathers emphasized, “E Pluribus Unum”. This principle – out of many one – recognized that America is a diverse nation and that through this diversity we are stronger.
In an election season where Donald Trump has taken to rally stages emphasizing differences and division across our great nation, I plan to vote to celebrate this diversity by electing the first woman President – Hillary Clinton. I know that I stand beside millions of immigrant voters who believe that “Stronger Together” is not just a sign that students wave on college campuses, it is why with a Clinton-Kaine Administration we should all be optimistic about the generation ahead.
Guzel is CEO of Nimeks Organics, Chairman of the DNC Heritage Council and an officer with the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council.
The views expressed by Contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.