If it weren't for my parents, I probably wouldn't be the same woman I am today.

My parents made sure that I always had everything I needed. They wanted to ensure I would continue to be successful as i grew up. They wanted me to have the best of everything. Without their upbringing, I don't think I would be the woman I am today.

I live in a city. It isn't majorly made up of rich people, and it isn't majorly made up of poor people, it's a mix. I come from an upper-middle class family. The school system in where I live is OK, but to my parents they knew I was worth more than the public school system my city offers.

And I still think to this day, what would happen if they just didn't care? If they just allowed me to "get by" and to not have standards. I have seen, in my own city, the result of kids whose parents allowed them to "get by," and they will continue to struggle in life because they didn't have someone crack down on them like my parents did.

I'm not saying all kids are ruined if their parents don't bring them up right, but a select few kids I know did go down the wrong path because they didn't have anyone to push them into the right direction.

My parents never allowed me to settle for less. They want me to have the best of everything, and to achieve all of my goals. They always taught me that it doesn't matter who you are when you're trying to achieve a goal. Anyone can achieve anything if they put their mind to it, as well as having the willpower to execute it.

And today, I really base all of my morals on them. Whenever I do anything I question whether or not they would approve - and I couldn't be more grateful. There is a difference between pressuring your child to be the best, and raising your child to have all of the best values and attitudes in life, and this is exactly what my parents did.

Sadly, not everyone can say this. Not everyone can say they had parents who were so involved in their life and wanted them to be the best version of themselves. I truly think that some kids don't know how to act right, or treat others how they want to be treated because of a lack of good parenting.

But I don't mean "good parenting" as being strict. I mean "good parenting" as in making sure your child is a better version of yourself. Making sure your child aspires anything they want or anything that you couldn't.

There's a difference between being aware of your parents sacrifices, and simply being a "spoiled brat." I am fully aware of everything that my parents have done, and still continue to do for me to this day.