Dear Family,

I want to start by thanking you for accepting me for who I am. I know at times I haven’t been the sweetest or most carefree person around, but you never turned your back on me. This says a lot because in life we have all had many people turn their backs on us. But you, you’ve always been there, you’ve seen me in my multiple awkward years, that never seemed to end, and still loved me anyway.

Thank you for always being there. You were the loud people who created my fan section at all the basketball and cheered even when we lost every game. Without your support through all the years, I know I would not be where I am today. You were the ones who always told me I would be ok and that I could do anything. You never fail to make me feel special and empowered and that will always help me more than you know.

Thank you for all the laughs. A family gathering is never boring with our family. Jokes are shared, stories are told, and laughs are always contagious. To be honest, holiday dinners are not the most exciting thing, sometimes I even dread them, but as all our stomachs begin to fill, I like to look around and think about how lucky I am to be surrounded by such a wonderful family.

Thank you for all the adventures. Some of my favorite memories are from driving around with you in the car. It doesn’t matter if we were going to the movies, or to Hershey Park, it was always a fun time. You showed me the importance of the journey, and that’s one thing I will never forget.

Thank you for all the advice. There are going to be struggles I will face in my life that my friends won’t always understand, and as hard as they try, they won’t know how to help. I know you will always be there with the best advice and a great joke to make me smile. For the aunts and uncles, here is a special thank you to you for all the advice on how to deal with mom and dad, and the extra help given around the holidays to find the perfect gift for mom. I know there is no way I would have survived without your love and advice.

Lastly, thank you for loving me like family, even though we may not be blood-related. Over the years, I have learned that family is more than just blood, and I’ve learned that through watching you welcome me into your lives with open arms. You didn’t have to love me or support me, but you did and there is no way for me to thank you enough. It doesn’t matter how different we look, you will always be my family.

Without you in my life, who knows where I would be. But because of you I know I am on my way to achieving my dreams. I am so lucky to be able to look around the holiday dinner table and see all your faces and know that this is my family. Thank you for giving me a place to belong and be loved.