Every year since freshman year, I’ve had the privilege of attending the Naturalization Ceremony here at Mount St. Joseph University, and every year, I leave changed.
This ceremony brings together individuals from around the world who have left their homes, taken rigorous tests, and overcome challenges beyond what most of us can imagine. Now, they stand ready to take their final step toward becoming United States citizens.
There were 100 applicants this year, representing 38 different countries. One hundred stories. One hundred journeys. One hundred reasons to believe in hope.
When they raise their right hands and take the Oath of Allegiance, I feel tears sting my eyes. It’s indescribably powerful to watch someone officially become what they’ve worked toward for years: an American. The judges always remind us that “out of many, we become one”, and in that moment, I see that truth unfold right in front of me.
America’s strength has always come from its diversity. Cincinnati itself has long been a beacon of hope, even in times as dark as slavery, and I pray it continues to be a place where those seeking a better life find exactly that.
Being able to witness this ceremony, to celebrate these new citizens, is an honor. A privilege. A reminder that democracy isn’t just strengthened in speeches or headlines, it’s strengthened every time a new voice is welcomed into it.
May God bless this country, and may God bless these new citizens as they begin their next chapter, one they have more than earned.