This year, like every other year since my first Thanksgiving as an immigrant, I’ll express gratitude for being a part of this incredible American experiment. And this time, I will sit at the Thanksgiving table as an American citizen for the first time.

I am profoundly grateful to be an American, and becoming a citizen of this great nation is one of the highest honors of my life. I chose to do so because I truly love this country and what it stands for, and that appreciation has only grown since I moved here in 2017. I’ve been in love with America ever since I was a child, but experiencing this country long-term—as my home—has helped me appreciate its uniqueness, the concrete impact of its founding values, and has reminded me of why so many people like me wish to call the U.S. their home.

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