Dear Dad,

Now that I'm older, I know that you've always been right. Girls my age always talk about how their mothers turned out to be right about everything, but the truth is you've been right too.

I used to roll my eyes when you talked to me about the importance of working and putting tons of effort into my schoolwork. Now that my first year of college is a little more than halfway done, I realize that all of that is incredibly true. I know that if I want to succeed in my chosen career path, I will have to dedicate myself to studying and staying on top of my work, and finding work outside of school holds just as much importance.

I never thought I was wrong about boys. I could always handle myself, I never needed your advice even though you too were a teenage boy once. When I got my heart broken, I wished I would've listened to you and stood up for myself before I let that boy hurt me, but now I know that I deserve nothing but the best from any guy who wants to get involved with me.

Most importantly, I never thought I could thrive on my own, despite the fact that you always told me I could. I was so afraid every day before I left for school, and then suddenly I was doing it, I was on my own, and everything you had ever told me about being on my own had finally made sense. All of this advice you've given me finally makes sense; all it took was time for me to understand.

Thank you for all you've done for me, I couldn't be where I am today without you.

Love,

Your Little Girl.