There was a time when I couldn’t even imagine that one day America would become my home. As a child, when I watched American movies and cartoons, I was always fascinated by the characters who dreamed big, took risks for their values and beliefs, and fought for freedom no matter what.
My soul has always longed for freedom. I deeply believe that it’s a natural state for a human being because we all carry the Divine spark within us. That’s why even small children have an innate desire to change things, create, and innovate.
In my home country, Belarus, the small Eastern European nation where I was born and raised, times were tough. The Soviet Union had collapsed, leaving chaos, lawlessness, and anarchy in its wake. People were fighting—not just for power, but for survival. The hardest part, however, was learning what freedom even meant after 70 years of communist rule. What was the value of an individual when, from the earliest school years, we were taught the phrase: “Ya” is the last letter of the alphabet? (In Russian, the last letter of the alphabet is “Я” (pronounced “Ya”), which also means “I.”)
We had to learn to take responsibility for our own lives instead of expecting the government to make decisions for us, as it had under communism. People had to relearn how to think independently and live freely. Not everyone succeeded—many remained trapped in the old ideology, unable to break free and live as independent individuals.
Despite growing up in such an environment, I was always a dreamer who believed in miracles and the freedom of the spirit. Even though religions were restricted during the Soviet era, my family and I never lost our belief in God. I always had a sense of conscience and honesty. But I didn’t truly understand what it meant to be free. The Soviet mentality was deeply ingrained in people’s minds. Envy was widespread, and wealth was often condemned. If you were talented or aspired to something greater, you would frequently hear gossip behind your back criticizing you for standing out.
At 26, I found the courage to embark on a journey in search of inner freedom—to immigrate to a country I had always associated with independence and bravery. The decision was spontaneous, yet it felt like I had been unconsciously moving toward it my entire life. Then, one day, I received my visa, and within a few months, I was in America. Today, after 12 years of living here, I’ve become a U.S. citizen, something I’m incredibly proud of. The stories of courageous heroes fighting for their values have become a part of me. This is my personal story of finding inner freedom, pursuing my dreams, speaking openly, believing without fear of judgment, and taking full responsibility for my life and the world around me.
Was it difficult? Absolutely.
Was it scary? Of course.
Adapting to a new country and a new language was hard. So was breaking down my old worldview and building a new one. There were countless moments when I thought I wouldn’t make it. But when you’re in an environment where your wings aren’t clipped, you start to believe that with effort, anything is possible. It’s no longer shameful to fall. What truly matters is how many times you get back up.
I’ve learned what it means to be a free person. Sometimes, that can be frightening—it means taking full responsibility for your own choices and their consequences, including failures. However, that’s exactly how we grow. A mature individual can face even the most difficult challenges—and still help others along the way. A mature nation begins with the maturity of each individual. That’s why I believe it’s so important to teach children from an early age not only about their rights, but also about responsibility, the consequences of their choices, and how to handle failure. We should share historical examples of how ideologies have destroyed and continue to destroy human creativity and freedom so that they can recognize these dangers in the future.
Sometimes I wonder why collectivism or totalitarianism (or any other “-ism”) lasts so long. Why don’t people fight for freedom? Perhaps because if people are born and raised in such an environment, they can’t fight for something they’ve never known. That’s why, when dictators come to power, the first thing they do is rewrite history, destroy memories of the past, and eliminate those who remember. Yet, at the same time, because freedom is the natural state of the human soul, given at birth, such regimes always fall—sooner or later.
Now, through my own experience, I know that America is a country of free and courageous people. That’s what I love most about it.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
