Grasping the Meaning of Freedom

Before I came to the United States, I had an image of America. For example, the U.S. is the country of freedom, but actually I didn't know the real meaning. In America, independence is one of the important values. Japanese should respect this because most Japanese university students can’t organize their own lives. Americans think it is astep to being an adult, and it means they can live by themselves. Usually Japanese students don’t have much responsibility, so Japanese people should think about American independence in terms of life style, the relationship with family, and responsibility.

First, it seems really important for American students to live alone after they graduate from high school. A lot of freshmen live in a dormitory and share a room with friends. They gradually change their life style. It is really common in the U.S. and actually a lot of students are doing it. This is connected with independence. They may have trouble with their roommate, and so they learn a lot of things, such as how selfish they are on their own or about their difficulty in cooperating. At the same time, they also notice the great importance of their parents. When they stay with their family, their parents support their children and that’s why they feel such a comfortable feeling in their house. For children to notice this great value, they shouldn't live with their family after high school.


Next, it is really important for everyone to have a strong family unit because a great family relationship is another good value of American culture. Most people in America realize the meaning of independence because it is part of their culture. The method of training children’s minds or controlling their behaviors are much better than in Japan. Every parent teaches children the significance of and general responsibility for opinions and behaviors. The parents teach it for their future. They hope that children can learn important things to live on their own. Sometimes, they learn from their mistakes. That’s why parents often advise their children to do something on their own. It is usual and is taken as a matter of course in America.

In conclusion, the United States is the country of freedom, but I think it means the freedom to organize one's life. To make one's own decisions without needing help from other people is really important in America.