Special to IFN

Zadie Blázquez-Straub, a Pine Lake Prep fifth-grader, spent the last few days of summer vacation on America’s Field Trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Zadie shared the experience with a group of students from around the country, all of whom submitted winning entries answering the question, “What does America mean to you?”

From observing wildlife in Lamar Valley to geyser gazing, Zadie enjoyed a once in a lifetime adventure.

Zadie’s Essay

America is more than a place. It’s a promise.

My dad grew up in Spain, where traditions run deep, but he dreamed of new opportunities. He came to America, and now, I live in a country where cultures blend like a giant mosaic.

At home, we eat tortilla de patatas and celebrate Reyes. We also watch fireworks on the Fourth of July.

We share America with exchange students and we help a refugee family from Afghanistan feel at home.

To me, America is not just about where you’re from. It’s about how we come together to create something even greater!

About America’s Field Trip

America250 is the national congressional commission leading the U.S. Semiquincentennial celebration, or America’s 250th birthday. Thousands of students in grades 3–12 from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia entered, answering the question, “What does America mean to you?” through original writing and artwork. The 75 first-place awardees were invited to go on once-in-a-lifetime field trips to some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks this summer.