Dear Mom and Dad,

I will never be able to convey how grateful I am for having both of you as my parents. I don't often appreciate or thank you for all that you have taught me. Going off to college and living on my own only showed me how much you both mean to me.

1. Thank you for taking risks for our family.

Being born and raised in India, I knew it was difficult to come to the United States, thousands of miles away from your entire family to a place where you knew no one but each other. It was difficult enough moving barely thirty miles away, so I could never imagine moving thousands. However, you both took the risk for our family, and I cannot be more thankful for the opportunities it has brought me.

2. Thank you for showing me our culture.

I love being able to say Hindi is a second language. I love Indian culture because it allows me to express myself. Most of all, I LOVE INDIAN STREET FOOD. Thank you for keeping me intact with my roots, and never letting me forget where I came from.

3. Thank you for always telling me you love me, even when I respond with "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

From the end of our conversations on the phone to the daily advice that you give me, you tell me that you love me and you will always be there for me. I love you for that, even though I will almost always reply with "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

4. Thank you for always making me laugh and smile through silly jokes and random GIFs, especially from dad.

I love our conversations where you send me random videos or GIFs, just as a pick-me-up.

5. Thank you for being at nearly every swim practice, lacrosse game, and Odyssey of the Mind competition I have ever participated in.

Your support has given me the confidence I have in everything I do today. Your endless support in school and everything I do has made me who I am. You continue to believe in me, even when I don't believe in myself, and I am so thankful for that.

6. Thank you for giving me my best friend, my partner in crime, and above all, someone I am glad I can call my sister.

She has become someone I can tell everything to. She gives the best advice and will always fight for me.

7. I am thankful that you both will always be my shoulder to cry on.

Thank you for always just knowing when I am sad and helping me figure out my problems, both big and small. I am glad I can talk to you both about anything.

8. Thank you for letting me fall and make my own mistakes, but also helping me get up when I do.

You both let me make my own decisions and help me understand if what I am thinking is something I really want. You always help me understand all my options around me and let me make my own, informed decisions. Even when I fail, you help me get up and start again.

9. Thank you for showing me what love is supposed to be like.

From all the little things you do for each other to all the big sacrifices you make for each other, I learned what love is really supposed to be like.

10. Most of all, thank you for all the unconditional love. I love you both.

The list could truly continue for hundreds of thousands of reasons why I love you both because I love you both endlessly. Without both of you, I do not know where I would be. I will never be able to repay you for everything you have done for me and will continue to do.. I will never stop trying to show you both how much you mean to me.

Thank you for loving me the way you do.

Love,

Prasiddhi