Being “Daddy’s Little Girl” always seems to have some sort of a negative connotation. People seem to believe that we girls have not learned to take care of ourselves or rely on our fathers to get us through life. Society seems to suggest that we girls can’t get a job on our own or pay for our own needs. But that is not what being a “daddy’s girl” means in the slightest. The idea of being “Daddy’s Little Girl” is something I will always label as a strength. I have learned so much from my father and I always will continue to do so. In many ways, being his “little girl” has aided me so much in college.
Dads teach us that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. There are so many times when I was stressed and wanted to give up, but his few words of encouragement were enough to get me right back on track. Now, in college, when I don’t have him around all the time, I can think back to those times during periods of test stress and remind myself to keep pushing. Even when life isn’t at its most challenging, I remind myself to give whatever I’m doing my best, just as he does in his everyday life.
I know when all of you were younger, you all used roll your eyes at the “fiscal responsibility” talks, but now, when it's you and only you that is in charge of your money, you are very thankful. Sometimes, when I go to buy something online, I can hear my dad saying “remember to save” in the back of my mind and I think, 'do I really need this?' Most of the time, the response is no. I am so thankful that my father taught me the necessity of saving, because it is always comforting to know you have money in the bank in case of an emergency.
As a little girl, I used to be extremely shy and afraid to talk to anyone new around me. Well, in college, every single person you talk to is new. I thank my father so much for pushing me, even when it made me angry with him, to get out of my comfort zone and talk to people. I can’t imagine how much more difficult college would be if I was nervous to talk to people and make friends. Even sometimes, when I feel myself pulling in, I remind myself what my dad would do or say to me when I was little and push myself to come out of my shell.
Dads do more for us than we even know; they can cheer us up with their stupid but always funny jokes or push us to strive for our dreams. They provide for us and set an example of who we should try to be in our future. So thank you, dad, thank you for always letting me be your “little girl."
