My Hopes for America

The Founding Collection | Prompt 03

What changes do you most hope to witness in America during your lifetime, and why do those changes matter to you?

Every generation has its own hopes for America's future. Some envision a country with greater opportunity, stronger communities, and a better quality of life. Others hope to see divisions healed, long-standing challenges addressed, or cherished traditions and values preserved for generations to come.

Our hopes for America are often shaped by the lives we've lived. The communities we've belonged to, the challenges we've faced, the people we've loved, and the changes we've witnessed all influence what we believe our country could become.

For some, hope means imagining something entirely new. For others, it means protecting what is already good, restoring something that has been lost, or ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities they once enjoyed.

We want to know what you hope America's future will look like, and why that vision matters to you.

Your experiences can help future generations understand what Americans of different backgrounds, circumstances, and generations valued, worried about, and aspired toward during their lifetimes. Beyond political debates and national conversations are the personal experiences that give our hopes meaning.

Whether your hopes are rooted in optimism, concern, gratitude, frustration, or a combination of these feelings, your perspective is an important part of America's history. As you prepare your response, we encourage you to think about the experiences, people, and moments that have shaped your hopes for America's future.

Questions to Help You Reflect

1. What kind of America do you hope to see during your lifetime?

Think about the country you would like to experience in the years ahead. What would you like to see improve, change, return, or remain the same? What would a better future for America look like through your eyes?

2. What experiences have shaped your hopes for America's future?

Consider moments in your life that influenced what you believe America could or should become. Perhaps you witnessed something that inspired you, experienced an injustice, benefited from an opportunity, or saw your community come together in a meaningful way. How did those experiences shape your vision?

3. What do you believe America should preserve as it moves forward?

Think about the values, traditions, freedoms, institutions, or aspects of American life that have been meaningful to you. What do you hope future generations will continue to experience, and why are those things important to you?

4. What changes would make the greatest difference in your life or the lives of those around you?

Consider the challenges facing your family, community, or country. Are there opportunities you wish were more accessible, problems you hope will be addressed, or barriers you would like to see removed? How would these changes affect the people and places you care about?

5. What gives you hope for America's future?

Think about the people, experiences, movements, or moments that remind you of what America is capable of becoming. What makes you believe that the future can be better? If you find it difficult to feel hopeful, what would need to change for that hope to grow?

Why we feel this story is important

Throughout America's history, people have imagined different futures for the country they call home. Some of those hopes became reality, others remained unfulfilled, and many helped shape the conversations and decisions of generations that followed.

The hopes we carry today are part of that continuing story. They reveal not only what we want for tomorrow, but also what we value, what we've experienced, and what we believe is worth preserving or changing.

By sharing your hopes for America, you are helping preserve a record of the aspirations, concerns, and possibilities that shaped the people living in this country during your lifetime.