You have taught me so much about who I am and what I want to be. You have stood by me whether I was right or wrong; you were there to defend me. You are one of the best things to ever happen to me and I will be grateful to you always.

1. Be Strong.

You have showed me what I am capable of and where I want to go. You are proof that even when life feels like it’s too much to handle, it is possible to come out of it. I am more than my struggles and they don’t define me. I know this because you are living proof.

2. Have Faith.

No matter what happens, how I feel, and whether or not I succeed, I will be okay. I know that if I ever feel like it won’t be okay, I have someone that will be there for me. I have learned to have faith in His plan for me and be open minded to all possibilities

3. Be True.

Take pride in your opinion and stick to it, never apologize for how you feel because it’s not worth it. If people don’t except you for who you are as a whole, then forget them. You will find people just like you, it may take a while but it will happen. If you are disappointed, you learn, and if you are successful, you learn, so take chances and don’t be afraid.

4. Be a Friend.

You never know what someone is going through and you have the power to make or break somebody’s day. I have learned that having people on your side is so vital to enjoying life. Having someone there to comfort you in your failures and watch in awe of your accomplishments is such a beautiful thing, and you should be that for someone else. Pay it forward and watch what you receive in return. It’s not about the quantity of time you spend together, it’s the quality of the time.

5. Have Fun.

Sometimes, all you need is some plain-old fun. Get that extra scoop, rent that movie, go to that party, be friends with the one person you don’t know. Let loose sometimes, have a night away from everything that is going on. Make sure that you breathe and relax every once in a while. Step back and check on yourself and make sure you’re doing things that are enjoyable to you.

6. Be Happy.

If you have a dream, go for it. If you know what you want and you have a goal, do what makes you happy and watch yourself accomplish the unthinkable. You are capable of so much and you shouldn’t limit yourself to low expectations, and past failures. You are the only person that can make a change if that’s what you want so go, change your future, and be proud.

I’ve been taught to be who I am, have faith, be true, have fun, be a friend, and be happy. I am glad that you chose me and passing these lessons onto me. I love you for forever and a day.