Usually, superheroes are regarded as fictional characters in movies and TV shows but I'm lucky to have my father as my real-life superhero! He plays a huge role in molding me into the person I'm today. His constant words of wisdom always invigorate me to give over 100% towards all that I do in life and beyond. He serves as the monumental pillar behind my strength and ability to overcome obstacles on my own as well as to emerge as a "dream-chaser."

My father is a man that resembles a coin with two sides. One side of him resembles a sweet and innocent little boy whereas the other side resembles a strict disciplinarian who always wants things to be "perfect." In other words, he is a complete perfectionist which I'm still trying to be! Apparently, he strongly disagrees with my desire of searching for perfection amidst imperfection.

Honestly, my life has always been like Rachel Green's from "Friends." Her father fulfilled all her wishes and financed everything she wanted to buy. Her father paid for all her credit cards, just like mine! Rachel Green and I are strikingly similar in so many ways. This is exactly what my father had done for me and he still makes my wish his command to this day! Despite being showered upon all these exquisite luxuries and receiving all the golden-goodies, my father has also extensively taught me to appreciate the little joys of life which cannot be given a monetary value.

This is the most probable reason why I don't indulge in overspending all the time and rejoice in the precious moments granted by life on a daily basis. Moreover, my father has always preached the lesson of how to be fully independent using education and knowledge as a vital weapon. My overall transformation and growth as a human being and young adult is largely shaped by my daddy's contributions. His consistent ways of introducing me to the ways of the world has made me more aware of the possible solutions to a single problem and many more.

Living on campus since my freshman year at Rutgers has exorbitantly taught me how to become more independent and learn to survive on my own. This is exactly what my dad wanted me to learn when I started growing up and I'm glad to have learned this significant skill. However, as I'm getting older, his expectations are continuously increasing and living up to his vast amount of expectations has become a major lifelong goal for me. Furthermore, he has taught me to be fearless, brave, lion-hearted, strong, bold, and seriously motivated in life. Alongside that, I inherited my penchant for punctuality and valuing the importance of time from him.

Erikka Chowdhury

Even though I tend to get a bit irritated when he says things that I don't prefer hearing or when he corrects me if I'm wrong, I have realized that all he has been trying to do the whole time was prepare me for the real world. After going through many struggles to achieve his dreams and aspirations, he also wants me to learn to experience the sweet pain of struggle so I can make my dreams come true as well! In fact, he is one in a million!

In essence, it is really difficult for me to sum up what my father means to me in words but my love and affection towards him holds no bounds! My father exhibits an exuberant zest for life and genetically this is where I get my outgoing and optimistic personality from. It truly gives me sheer pleasure to share fun-filled moments encapsulated by a lot of giggles and laughter with him. "Thanks" is too short of a word for everything he has and still is doing for my well-being and brighter future.

Above all, he is indeed my best friend and I feel blessed every day to be his daughter. No matter how old I get, I will always be my "daddy's little girl."

Erikka Chowdhury