“Remember, this is your launching pad.”

My dad had a tendency to toss me this metaphor anytime I was stepping out the front door. It didn’t matter if I was leaving for 5 minutes or 5 months, and I would typically respond with a subtle eye-roll and an, “I know, Dad.” These words were easy to brush off in middle and high school, but a few months ago I finally began to understand the wisdom behind my dad’s words.

I could not be further from a rocket scientist, but I do understand that a lot has to happen before the possibility of “3…2…1… Blast off!” Years of preparation go into developing a spacecraft capable of venturing into outer space. Its framework is constructed to withstand changing environments as it reaches higher altitudes, and its tank is filled with specific fuel necessary for powering it throughout its course. Its propulsion system is designed to keep it climbing into new territory, and the engine is developed to pump fuel throughout the rocket so it keeps reaching upward. Maps are created to guide the rocket through space, and once it’s fully equipped and ready for liftoff, it is taken to the starting line of its journey: the launching pad.

Late night lectures at the kitchen table were the framework that guided me to choose right over wrong. Political and religious debates during Saturday brunch were the fuel that empowered me to establish my personal beliefs and learn how to defend my own way of thinking. Laughs shared over Redbox movies at 3 a.m. confirmed that a good sense of humor is the best propulsion system to keep you moving upward in life. The fairytales performed in the middle of the living room were responsible for pumping creativity through me, and prayers before bed were the maps that guided me to understand the importance of faith, hope, and unconditional love in navigating my way through life. I know now that these aspects were assembled together to provide a strong foundation for my own liftoff.

I now spend most of my time away from my launching pad. Homesickness is a rare occurrence for me, and the transition from preparing for the real world to taking my first steps into it has been a surprisingly smooth one. I understand that the launching pad isn’t where a rocket is supposed to stay, just like home isn’t where I’m supposed to stay; it’s where I’m supposed to take off.

So, Daddy, you should know that you raised quite a rocket. I hope you’re proud of how I’m choosing to launch.